Officers who carried out a series of raids at a licensed premises and numerous residential addresses across west London have arrested a total of 13 people.

The 13, who are aged between 20-40, were arrested after 15 addresses were searched across Hillingdon, Hounslow, Ealing and Richmond.
The offences for which arrests were made included drugs and handling stolen goods. All 13 were taken into custody at various west London police stations.

Seven have since been charged with a variety of offences, while the remaining six have been bailed pending further investigation.
During the searches a significant amount of cash was seized, included £27,000 from one venue and a quantity of Class A and B drugs, including wraps of cocaine along with cash and stolen goods.

Also, following a drugs warrant being executed at the premises, the Victoria public house in North Hyde Road, Hayes has been closed by the local authority after an expedited review under Section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003.

The raids followed an intelligence-led investigation - named Operation Bear - to target drug dealing and anti-social behaviour.

More than 200 officers from Hillingdon borough along with colleagues from pan-London units including the Territorial Support Group (TSG , the Dog Support Unit (DSU), the Air Support Unit (ASU) and Trident supported the co-coordinated raids which began at around 20:00hrs on Wednesday, 14 May and carried on into the early morning on Thursday, 15 May, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Turner, from Hillingdon Borough CID and who led the operation, said: "Today's actions are just one example of how we have powerfully acted on community concerns and intelligence relating to criminality. Since the start of this operation last year we have successfully secured the conviction of 18 individuals - some of whom are prolific offenders - who are now serving prison terms of approximately 50 years in combined total.

"These results have without question had an exceptionally positive impact on the every day lives of our communities."

Detective Chief Supt Nick Downing, Hillingdon Borough Commander, said: "Our commitment to making Hillingdon the safest borough in London continues and we will make every effort to combat crime using new and innovative ways to ensure our residents are proud of where they live and work.

"With the public's help, we will continue to make Hillingdon a hostile environment for criminals to operate in and we will positively act on the needs of those that matter, our communities.

"We will undertake action and we will continue to disrupt and arrest those involved in this type of criminality, using every resource available to us to ensure that offenders can no longer exploit our borough and its law abiding citizens."

Anybody with information about drug crime is urged to contact police or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

May 16, 2014