Week of action disrupts drugs and knife crime

Officers dedicated the equivalent to an extra four days to a week of action targeting criminals involved in drugs and knife crime.

Officers in Chelmsford and Maldon carried out patrols, stop searches and executed warrants between 11 to 17 May under Operation Overwatch.

They dedicated more than 100 extra hours, made 15 arrests and carried out three warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

PC Lily Erskine said: “These results were part of our ongoing work to target criminals involved in knife crime, drugs activity and gangs.

“The vast majority of residents will fortunately never be affected by this type of crime.

“But drugs crime is closely associated with violence, exploitation of vulnerable people and other crimes such as burglary and burglary.

“Information from the public is really important as it helps us gather evidence to target offenders. I want to thank the community for their ongoing support and ask them to please keep reporting any incidents to us.”

The week of action was part of Operation Sceptre, our ongoing work to tackle serious violent crime including knife and drug-related crime.

If you know of someone who you think is being exploited by drug dealers, or you have any information which might help us prevent and detect crime, or protect vulnerable people, call us on 101.

Alternatively, contact the Crimestoppers charity 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org.

Find out more about our work under Operation Sceptre at https://www.essex.police.uk/opsceptre

The results from Operation Overwatch include the following arrests in Chelmsford:


A man was charged with possession of crack cocaine after being stopped by police near the Miami roundabout on 11 May.
Sunil Rao, 61, of Baker Street, Chelmsford, is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 9 June.

A man has been charged with drugs offences after a warrant was carried out at an address in Wordsworth Court on 14 May. Jeffrey Zakaria, 20, of Brooks Road, Plaistow, was charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin, possession of cannabis and acquiring, using or possessing criminal property. He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 15 May and is next due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 12 August.


Four men were arrested on suspicion of money laundering after being found with about £7,500 in cash. They were in a car that was stopped in Partridge Avenue on 12 May after officers noticed the manner it was being driven in and a smell of cannabis.
A 36-year-old man from Witham was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and a burglary in Harwich.
Two men aged 26 and 26 from Witham were arrested on suspicion of money laundering.
And a 39-year-old man from Romford was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and drug-driving.
They have been released under investigation while we continue our enquiries.


A 17-year-old boy was arrested in Danbury on 14 May after a woman was robbed in Belvedere Road. He was arrested on suspicion of robbery, using threatening, abusive words or behaviour and assaulting an emergency worker. He has been released on bail until 8 June.


A car was stopped in Pump Lane, Chelmsford, on 12 May and drugs paraphernalia and a large amount of cash were found.
The driver, a 33-year-old man from Chelmsford, was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving and being concerned in supplying a controlled drug.
His passenger, a 35-year-old man from Chelmsford, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in supplying a controlled drug.
Both have been released under investigation while we continue our enquiries.

A 38-year-old man from Chelmsford was arrested on 11 May. Officers attempted to stop the car he was driving in Broomfield Road but it drove off. It was later stopped.
He was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, drug-driving, driving while unfit through drugs and assaulting an emergency worker. He was released under investigation while we continue our enquiries.

A warrant was carried out at an address in Burgess Springs, Chelmsford, on 17 May and two people were reported for possession of drugs.