Pubdate: Tue, 06 May 2014
Source: Cambridge Evening News (UK)
Copyright: 2014 Cambridge Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4131
Author: Raymond Brown

MORE ARRESTS AS LONDON GANGS ARMED WITH KNIVES IN CAMBRIDGE FIGHT IN
TURF WAR OVER DRUG DEALING TRADE

Armed London gangs are moving into Cambridge in a bid to take over its
drugs trade in a dangerous 'turf war'.

Police have arrested a further 13 suspected Class A drug dealers and
the majority of those collared were gang members from the capital,
officers said.

And a gang fight broke out in which stabbings occurred and police
seized cash, blades and drugs as the battle hots up for the city's
lucrative trade.

Police say dealers from the capital are targeting "vulnerable drug
users" in the city to "take advantage of them."

Last year 14 dealers from London were arrested in the
city.

The most recent batch of arrests comes after Scotland Yard warned some
of London's most notorious gangs are extending their range of
operations to regional cities.

Police have said the gangs are commuting to Cambridge and the issue
has become so serious that a city Crown Court judge described the
emerging trend as a "major problem."

One Cambridge drug user, who did not wish to be named, told the News: 
"There are so many dealers coming up from London that our usual dealers 
are being pushed out - and they don't like it.

"It's starting to feel threatening. When you can make a big profit,
everyone wants a piece of it."

Police have been out in force and have made several raids and drug
seizures.

Insp Poppitt described how officers caught up with one London gang who
had knives in a report to the city council's north area committee.

He said: "Many of those arrested were young men from London with gang
affiliations. In the most notable success, North team officers
arrested five men for supplying Class A drugs and for their part in a
stabbing incident involving another group. "The arrests resulted in
the seizure of knives, a large quantity of cash and money and two
parcels of Class A drugs were recovered."

And a drug house in Chesterton has been shut down as part of the war
on dealers.

Insp Poppitt said: "The team has worked with a local housing
association to support them in taking possession of a flat in
Chesterton where constant drug activity was impacting on the lives of
nearby residents and the wider community."

London dealers have moved in because of the high value of heroin and
cocaine in Cambridge.
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MAP posted-by: Matt