UPDATED: Three charged following Harrogate drugs operation

UPDATED 7 May 2022

Three of the four men arrested in Harrogate on Thursday 5 May have been charged and will appear at York Magistrates' Court on Saturday morning. 

They were charged late on Friday night and remanded in custody. 

All three were charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine and being concrened in the supply of cannabis. 

The 22-year-old was also charged with assault by beating of a police officer and the 37-year-old was also charged with two counts of assault by beating of a police officer. 

The fourth man who was arrested, aged 40, has been released on conditional bail to allow for further enquiries to be carried out. 

Previous release issued 6 May

Four men have been arrested during an operation targeting suspected cocaine dealers in Harrogate.

The action follows an investigation by North Yorkshire Police’s Organised Crime Unit into a gang suspected of bringing cocaine and cannabis into Harrogate and the surrounding area.

Warrants were carried out across Harrogate on the afternoon of Thursday 5 May when the men were arrested and officers seized suspected cocaine, bulking agent, cannabis, cash, mobile phones and drugs paraphernalia.

 

The arrested men include one aged 22, from London, one aged 34 from Portsmouth, and two aged 37 and 40 from Harrogate. All four were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

The 22-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

The 34-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class B drugs and the 37-year-old also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to produce class B drugs.

All four remain in police custody for questioning.

Detective Inspector Fionna McEwan of North Yorkshire Police’s Organised Crime Unit, said: “The latest action follows six months of painstaking information gathering behind the scenes.

“This work is not always visible but I can assure local people that we continue to work hard to disrupt organised crime and relentlessly pursue those believed to be involved.

“If you suspect drug dealing in your neighbourhood, or you believe someone is being exploited, please don’t hesitate to make a report to us in confidence, or anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers. Every piece of information, no matter how small, helps to inform a bigger picture.”

Reporting information about drugs-related crime

Anyone with any information is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1, and speak to the Force Control Room.

Always dial 999 if an emergency response is required.

If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

 The signs of drug dealing can include

• Increased callers at a property at all times of the day or night
• Increase in cars pulling up for short periods of time
• Anti-social behaviour at a property
• Not seeing the resident for long periods of time
• Drug-related rubbish – small plastic bags, syringes
• Windows covered or curtains closed for long periods

Get help for drug and alcohol addiction

• North Yorkshire Rise– young people's specialist drug and alcohol service- freephone 08000 14 14 80 (option 2) NY Rise – Humankind (humankindcharity.org.uk)
• North Yorkshire Horizons- adult specialist drug and alcohol service - freephone 08000 14 14 80 North Yorkshire Horizons - Adult Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service. 
• Changing Lives- City of York Drug and Alcohol Service - 01904 464 680 
• NHS- uk/live-well/healthy-body/drug-addiction-getting-help/
• FRANK helpline and information- https://www.talktofrank.com/