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Sniffer dogs and hi-tech trap 27 19/7/2008
South Wales Police using sniffer dogs and high technology this week arrested 27 people and seized 80 vehicles in a drugs offensive called Operation Eagle.
The operation involved the use automatic number plate recognition which can scan number plates at around one per second on cars travelling up to 100 mph.
Superintendent Liane James from South Wales Police Roads Policing Unit said, “With ANPR, there is literally nowhere to hide – we use mobile as well as fixed units, meaning criminals can never second guess when we are watching.
"By joining up with our neighbouring forces and key support agencies, the message is that there are no boundaries for criminals in the South West and Wales.
“ANPR technology means we can identify people wanted for a whole range of offences, from possession of drugs to benefit fraud and disqualified drivers.â€
Operaton Eagle resulted in:
285 vehicles stopped
27 arrests
48 vehicles tested on roadside drug analysis device
8 persons tested on roadside fingerprint device, 3 false name giving identified
63 vehicle seizures for offences ranging from being uninsured, or used without a driving licence, 21 other vehicles found to have committed a variety of road traffic offences, 17 seized for example for no vehicle excise licence, or as unroadworthy
HM Customs seized 65000 cigarettes and found 3 vehicles on red diesel
Department for Works and Pensions cautioned 10 people re benefit offences
People were arrested for:
Money laundering offences – total of approx 30,000 pounds in suspicious money was confiscated
Possession of drugs – heroin and cannabis were recovered
Disqualified driving
Theft of motor vehicle offences
Assault
Carrying an offensive weapon
South Wales Police worked with a number of partner agencies including Avon and Somerset Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary, South Wales Police, Dorset Police, Wiltshire Constabulary, Gwent Police, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, will be involved in the operation, with support from the DVLA, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), Border and Immigration Agency (BIA), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Highways Agency.
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