DRUGS with a street value of more than £125,000 have been seized - and police tasked with disrupting supply chains have warned that the net is closing in on criminals.
Intelligence gathered in the run-up to last week’s raids resulted in heroin and cocaine being recovered but the main haul was 120 ‘fully-grown’ cannabis plants and already-packaged cannabis which was worth £100,000 alone.
One warrant was executed at a unit on Carlton Industrial Estate where the cannabis farm was discovered.
Chief Superintendent Simon Wanless said: “Our proactive team has had some fantastic results - their focus is primarily on tackling organised crime groups and drug supply into the borough.
“More than 150 people have been arrested so far this year.
“Operations cannot happen without the information and intelligence submitted by you, our local residents and communities.
“If you see something that concerns you, report it to us so we can investigate.”
Officers from Trading Standards - alongside the police - also raided two premises in Lundwood where they recovered 35,000 illegal cigarettes.
Superintendent Mark James told the Chronicle: “This has been a huge result for the police as we’re talking about the worst type of drugs, ones which ruin people’s lives and can be fatal.
“The figures speak for themselves - we’ve interacted with more than 100 subjects, arrested many and charged them but we’re not done yet.
“There’s a case to build for each and every one of the people we charge and we have to apply for a court-ordered warrant when we want to search a property, so it does take time.
“However, we’ve made inroads into supply chains and made a huge dent into Barnsley’s drug infrastructure.
“These are not morally upstanding people and they’re a huge risk to the public.
“Our work now that we’ve disrupted 12 drug lines is to ensure no-one else attempts to move in and take over the supply chain.”
Detective Superintendent Al Burns, from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Crime Unit, said work will continue to occur alongside South Yorkshire Police.
“This latest round of co-ordinated enforcement activity by police and partners comes as part of an ongoing national campaign which is continuing to make a very significant impact on these criminal networks.
“These organised crime groups are intrinsically linked to illegal migration, violent crime and the exploitation of vulnerable people, and their activities cause real harm in our communities.
“We remain absolutely committed to doing everything we can to disrupt and dismantle their criminal enterprises, and we hope the successful outcomes of this latest operation will provide some reassurance to people across the region.”
