POLICE who have worked tirelessly to rid Mid Cheshire of drug dealers have been praised by their boss.
Insp Brian Roberts, who presides over the Winsford and Tarporley Division of Cheshire Constabulary, was thrilled with the conduct of his officers during Operation Clean Sweep and beyond.
The massive police operation saw more than 400 officers take part in a series of dawn raids in Winsford and Northwich, plus a number in Liverpool, from where dealers were believed to be supplying Mid Cheshire with hard drugs.
Nine suspected dealers were rounded up from Winsford homes on the day of Operation Clean Sweep and more raids on addresses within the town followed.
In Northwich, 12 people were arrested and charged with various drugs offences.
A further 11 people in Winsford and Northwich were arrested in follow-up raids.
Police also blitzed areas where deal-ers had been taken out of operation, such as Winsford's Over Estate, with high-visibility patrols to deter others from filling the gap in the drugs market.
The successful operation came about after months of painstaking intelligence work on the streets.
Insp Roberts, a former detective with the drugs unit, said: 'I would like to thank the officers for the recent successes regarding the trafficking of controlled drugs.
'I have spent many years as a detective working in very uncomfortable conditions for many hours to obtain evidence to convict drug dealers, so I know what they have been going through in the last few months.
'I believe that it is important for the public to know that their police officers are committed to making Mid Cheshire a safer place to live.
'The only people who need worry are those who are tempted to remain in the drug-dealing trade or foolishly enter into it.
'Both the police and our courts take a very serious view of any person who engages in the supply of drugs.'
Police now have the authority to seize any money or assets they can reasonably argue came from the profits of selling drugs.
It means anyone caught pushing life-wrecking drugs like heroin and crack cocaine could risk losing their homes as well as serving a sentence in jail.
'We do appreciate the temptation that is put before people to get involved in this type of activity, and we know that a lot of the lower-level dealers are vulnerable themselves,' said Insp Roberts.
'But they are still getting involved in a terrible trade and causing misery to many, many people.
'They will continue to be targeted by the police as long as they engage in these criminal activities.'
He added: 'The police cannot complete this task on their own. We need the help of the residents.
'I believe that there are many people in Mid Cheshire who have information that could help us and I ask that they contact us confidentially.' Anyone with any information is asked to call CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.
