Neighbourhood News

Over the past six weeks, Thames Valley Police officers in Aylesbury have been carrying out a crackdown on drug dealers and drug-related crime under Operation Falcon.

Operation Falcon is Thames Valley Police’s long-term strategy to tackle drugs and drug dealing.

Between 10 May and 2 July, a specialist team of detectives and police officers focussed on disrupting the supply of drugs and bringing offenders to justice. The specialist team was supported by the neighbourhood policing teams, response officers and Roads Policing Department.

The crackdown came about as a result of community intelligence. In total, 29 warrants were carried out, 69 arrests were made and £10,000 cash was recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Cannabis plants with a street value of £600,000 and other drugs worth an estimated of £10,000 were seized.   

As part of the crackdown, Angus Kenrich Woods, aged 36, from Windrush Drive, High Wycombe, was arrested on 14 May in Oxford Road, Aylesbury. He was stopped in a vehicle and subsequently swallowed drugs. He was detained in hospital for four days, eventually producing 17 wraps of crack cocaine. He was charged, remanded and on 23 June was sentenced  to four years imprisonment at Aylesbury Crown Court possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

On 15 May, a drugs warrant was carried out on Bicester Road where a cannabis factory was found with 750 cannabis plants. The plants and hydroponics equipment was seized and one man and a teenage girl were arrested. Thivan Tran, aged 18 and a 17-year-old girl from Aylesbury have both been charged with cultivation of cannabis and abstracting electricity. They have both been remanded in custody and their next court date is still to be confirmed.

Following a report of a disturbance on 15 June, officers attended an address in Oak Green and discovered 350 cannabis plants. On 22 June, Lam Do, aged 18, from Oak Green was charged with cultivation of cannabis and abstracting electricity. He has been remanded to prison.

Of the 29 warrants carried out, 22 related to drugs and seven to theft and handling offences. During seven of the drug warrants, police discovered suspected cannabis factories with a total of 2,000 plants with a street value of £600,000.

Out of the 69 arrests, 41 were for drug offences, 11 for serious acquisitive crime (burglary, robbery, vehicle offences) and 18 for other offences.

Neighbourhood Inspector Omar Abu-Rish, said: “Even though the intense period of action has come to end, work will continue to lock up drug dealers and tackle drug-related crime in Aylesbury Vale.

“Offenders arrested for serious acquisitive crime offences have been found with drugs in their possession and on one occasion one offender stated he had committed a burglary in order to exchange the items stolen for drugs. This highlights the issues between criminal offending and the drugs market.

“Let this be a warning to criminals or drug dealers. We are dedicated to finding you and and locking you up for a number of years, ensuring all drugs are taken off the streets of Aylesbury Vale.

Anyone who has information which can help detectives in their fight against drug dealers can contact Thames Valley Police on 0845 8 505 505.

If you are a resident who has concerns about drug dealers in your neighbourhood and do not want to police or give your name, you can call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.