Large Drugs Ring Raid With Links In Yate

A Yate man has been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs after police uncovered a suspected cocaine ring.  Erik Thomas, of Hayleaze, was charged along with six other people in connection with a significant cocaine dealing conspiracy after nationwide raids on Wednesday, September 7.

During the raids officers seized a large quantity of cocaine, several thousand pounds worth of cash and a speedboat valued at £25,000.

Five men and two women were held over conspiracy to supply a Class A drug.

Some 50 officers from Gloucestershire, Avon and Somerset, Leicestershire and West Mercia forces took part in the raids.

Detective Inspector Neil Carpenter from Gloucestershire Constabulary said the arrests marked the culmination of an investigation that began at the start of the year.

"We suspect those we have arrested of being concerned in a large scale cocaine ring and all of them are now being questioned on that basis," Mr Carpenter added.

Those arrested were two men aged 43 and 44, from Abbeydale, Gloucestershire; a 30-year-old man from Yate, South Gloucestershire; a 51-year-old woman from Pendock, Worcestershire; and two men aged 25 and 26, and a woman, 27, from Leicester.

You just don't expect this sort of thing to be going on in Yate. Its funny how you assume that this couldn't possibly be going on in your neighbourhood.