Police stormed a house early today in the latest phase of a Colchester anti-drugs operation.

A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs during the 7am raid in Tippett Close, Greenstead.

Sgt Dave Salmon, of the tactical team, said afterwards that the carefully planned raid had gone "very well".

The suspect was the 11th person to have been arrested as part of Colchester police's Operation Tralee, launched to tackle the sale of hard drugs in the town.

A team of about 16 officers, all wearing body armour, were involved in the arrest. Special equipment was used to let them into the house, where they found the man who was arrested.

Two women, a young boy and a baby were also in the property.

Operation Tralee has now led to five swoops in Colchester and Clacton in which 11 suspects have been arrested, although two were released without charge.

Speaking after a similar Operation Tralee raid last week, Chief Insp Tim Newcomb, of Colchester police, issued a warning to dealers in the town.

He said: "Anyone involved in the supply of drugs in Colchester has good reason to be nervous."

Published Thursday, January 30, 2003

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