London drug dens shut down in raids
published: Sunday | June 20, 2004

Some of the 57 Jamaicans who were deported from the United Kingdom on Tuesday, gather at the Norman Manley International Airport with their families, shortly after their arrival. - Ian Allen photo

BRIXTON, ONE of the largest areas of Jamaican concentration in London, has been the subject of a series of police raids over the last few weeks.

Quantities of crack cocaine and cannabis were found in a line of premises in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, and some 22 persons were arrested for drug offences. During the operation the police also closed the Pedro Keys restaurant in Coldharbour Lane under the Anti-social Behaviour Order Act. In a separate operation, the police raided and closed the Jamaican-run Erosions nightclub in Leytonstone, east London. The police were acting on suspicion that drugs were being sold at the premises by the infamous One Order Crew ­ a menacing outfit of Jamaican men that operates between south and east London.

The law men have hit several drug dens, taking large numbers of men into custody. Chief Superintendent Dick Quinn said the local community showed full support of the continuing drive to rid the area of hard drugs.