(Updated) Coordinated raids in Wrexham as police look to ‘dismantle local organised crime group’

Update 3:30pm: Police say a total of eight people have now been arrested following today’s operation against an organised crime group suspected of dealing in class A drugs in Wrexham. Seven men and one woman are in custody in Llay.

Original information below…

North Wales Police raided several addresses in Wrexham early this morning in an attempt to disrupt local organised drugs gangs.

Operation Lancelot was targeting those involved in the supply of Class A drugs, and was described specifically as involving local people rather than a ‘county lines’ operation.

Operation Lancelot has taken several months of work to put together, with Chief Inspector Stephen Roberts describing the targets as being a “locally bred organised crime group based mainly in the Caia Park area”.

Over 50 officers were involved in the raids with briefings and preparations taking place from the early hours at the new divisional HQ in Llay.

Wrexham.com had been invited to observe the preparations and then follow the operation, unusual in the method due to the ongoing pandemic. Previous operations have seen us pile in a police van along with officers, however due to Covid-19 separate vehicles and social distancing was required.

Eight properties were simultaneously raided with addresses on East Avenue, Hazel Grove, Wyndham Gardens, Tryweryn Place, Hullah Lane, Portal Avenue – and two addresses on Y Wern.

The address we were observing did not require the ‘big red key’ battering ram to gain access as the door was already open, so officers were able to enter the property in a less dramatic manner.

Five arrests were made this morning, however other individuals are still being sought by police in connection to the operation.

Chief Inspector Stephen Roberts said; “The operation has been five months in the planning and is ongoing.

“We are investigating a Wrexham- based organised crime gang supplying heroin and crack cocaine.

“This criminality causes so much misery for people and I would like thank the community for the intelligence and support they have given us to enable us to carry out this operation.”

The suspects have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and are currently in custody.

Chief Inspector Roberts said there would be further operations, however due to the ongoing nature of the work no further details could be released.