A MYSTERY third man is talking to police after a pair of high profile arrests as a senior detective warns of the dangers of getting involved with drug dealers.
Officers from Worcester have swooped on two addresses after they exposed crack cocaine and heroin dealing in the city centre and St John's - and took the mission to clean up city streets to the doors of suspected dealers.
As previously reported, officers with chainsaws hacked their way into a Birmingham tower block, arresting a 22-year-old man on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine in Worcester.
After the suspect was taken away in handcuffs, Worcester-based detectives from the Proactive team seized drugs and electronic devices including mobile phones to build a case against suspected County Lines dealers bringing class A drugs into the city.
This dramatic raid took place at Wells Tower in Rodney Close in Birmingham on Wednesday, May 24.
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Officers followed this raid up with a further warrant at another address in Birmingham - an HMO in Moseley - and made a further, linked arrest on June 8, finding a suspect asleep in bed. A large hunting knife was seized from a communal lounge in the shared house.
Another 22-year-old suspect was led away in handcuffs after he too was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of crack and heroin.
However, we can now reveal that investigations have led West Mercia Police in an unexpected direction - to a third man in the Cotswolds village of Broadway who has been interviewed on Tuesday of this week for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.
Detectives are now looking at the evidence they have 'in totality' before they make a decision about any criminal charges.
DI Dave Knight said: "It came as a surprise to us. It does help illustrate how County Lines gangs are using locals to facilitate their dealing."
He said this could involve, for example, a local person providing a roof over the heads of dealers further up the chain or driving them around or providing them with transport.
Cuckooing refers to dealers from out of town setting up shop in the homes, sometimes of vulnerable drug users, so they have a base in smaller cities like Worcester or towns including Malvern, Pershore, Evesham and Droitwich.
DI Knight said his message to drug users was that 'they are using you, they're dangerous and they could be carrying weapons'.
"You never know when you may no longer be of use to them. They are risking harm to themselves and getting a criminal conviction," he said.
He has urged people who may feel they are being used by dealers to contact West Mercia Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. T
To overcome any addiction or substance misuse issues, he urged them to contact Cranstoun which supports over-18s struggling with their alcohol or drug intake.
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