Man faces drugs and firearms charges following warrant

Police have charged a man with four counts of possessing drugs with the intent to supply following the execution of a warrant in Ripley.

The search warrant was led by Inspector Richard Smith, who is in charge of policing in the Amber Valley area, and was carried out on Friday, January 22.

An amount of suspected cocaine was seized from the house in Nottingham Road along with amphetamines, cash and a firearm.

A 33-year-old man was arrested at the property and has now been charged with two counts of possessing a class A drug with the intent to supply, two counts of possessing a class B drug with the intent to supply, one count of possessing a class A drug, one count of obstructing a constable under the Misuse of Drugs Act and two firearms offences.

He is currently remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance at crown court.

PC Gareth Wright, from the Codnor Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "We would like to thank members of the public who come forward and pass information to the police and Crimestoppers. It is this information enables us to tackle drugs in the community.

"We would now like to encourage anyone else with information relating to drug use or suspicious activity in the Ripley area to contact Derbyshire Constabulary or Crimestoppers as soon as possible. Your information may be invaluable in helping us to arrest those people who choose to break the law."

This search was made as part of three coordinated drug warrants completed as part of a crackdown on drug use and supply in the Ripley area, carried out by members of the local Safer Neighbourhood teams and Derbyshire Constabulary's Task Force.

The three warrants occurred on the same date and the second, which was carried out at the Market Place in Ripley, led to a 32-year-old male receiving a police caution for a small amount of amphetamine.

The third warrant occurred at Poppyfields in Ripley and produced a negative result.

You can contact your local Safer Neighbourhood policing team by calling 0345 123 33 33 or emailing ripley.neighbourhoods@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk.

To report a crime or pass information to the police anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.