More than £1m worth of drugs has been seized from suspected criminals in the last three months

The drugs have been seized by officers on the Op Sceptre Team, which is a specialist team making it uncomfortable for anyone suspected of being involved in knife crime.

Between April 2022 and April 2023, the team in Cardiff: 

• took 92 weapons off the streets
• seized £5m worth of drugs and £123k in cash
• made 189 arrests.

And there’s been no let-up in their proactivity this financial year with more than £1m worth of drugs already seized including:

• 35-year-old man from the West Midlands, believed to be driving towards Cardiff Bay, stopped on Rover Way by police due to being a disqualified driver. 15 kilos of cannabis and a knife found in his vehicle, and an ounce of heroin in his underpants.  Suspect charged with drugs and driving offences.
• Quarter of a kilo of cocaine found in a car and around £2k of cash was found in the driver’s home in Penarth Road. A 32-year-old man has been charged with drugs offences and remanded in custody.
• Six large cannabis factories found in Whitchurch x1, Roath x3 and Cathays x2.

These are just some examples of how the Op Sceptre Team continues to proactively patrol the city.

Their work complements the force’s anti-knife crime campaign ‘Not The One’ which educates young people on the consequences of carrying a knife and empowers communities to play their part in helping to reduce knife crime.

Superintendent Tom Moore, from South Wales Police, said:

“This combined effort of enforcement and education is helping to keep our streets safe and protect those being exploited.

“These latest figures highlight how the Op Sceptre Team continue to pursue those involved in serious violence and associated criminality.

“People often talk of cannabis as being a victimless crime, but it’s not. Organised crime is behind many of these cannabis factories. The criminals are earning a lot of money off the back of our communities, and they protect their plantations by using violence and intimidation.”

We can, and regularly do, act upon the information provided to us by the public, so please keep it coming.

Anyone with suspicions or information about knife crime and associated criminality is urged to contact us.

• Live Chat https://www.south-wales.police.uk/
• Report online https://www.south-wales.police.uk/ro/report
• Email [email protected]
• 101

Always call 999 in an emergency.

Visit the Not The One campaign website here nottheone.co.uk