AFTER seizing class A drugs in raids at two Orchard Court properties, the police have a defiant message for Newton Abbot residents: 'We want to sort out what's going on down there.'

Overall, officers executed three warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act – the other was at Ellacombe Road, Torquay – as part of the same operation at 8am on Wednesday, seizing the drugs – which are to be sent away for tests to establish what they are – along with cash, two vehicles, mobile phones and computer equipment.

The raid related to drug dealing and possession in the Newton Abbot area, and two men – one of them was at one of the properties in Orchard Court – aged 39 and 42, were arrested to help with inquiries.

Det Insp Sam de Reya, who said police have acted quickly in an attempt to tackle the problem, is determined to clamp down on the issues surrounding illicit drug dealing – and the anti-social behaviour that often goes with it – in and around Orchard Court.

'We know there's been an issue down there,' said Det Insp Reya, speaking at a press conference held at the town's police station.

'We don't just want to go and put a plaster on it, we want to go and fundamentally sort out what's going on.

'We've got residents – good people and communities – being affected and we need to do something about that.

'Stage three – phase one of our operation was around evidence gathering and phase two was the action stage we were involved in today (Wednesday) – is going to be around us putting some activity into the community to make sure this activity doesn't resume.

'That means getting out there and speaking to the community, speaking to the residents and finding out what else has been going on down there that we don't know about.

'It will also help us to gather the evidence picture we need to support our investigation, which is on-going.'

She added: 'Orchard Court is quite a prominent address next to Asda in the community – people are going to do their shopping and things like that.

'It's a real sort of high profile area as well, so it was really important for us to deal with the problems down there.

'We don't want people in our area committing these sort of crimes.

'We don't want the drugs being dealt in our area, and we don't want the knock-on effects that has on anti-social behaviour and crime, so it's very much my priority to get in quickly to deal with this before it takes hold and becomes a bigger issue.'

When asked whether the investigation could lead to further warrants and, if so, where, Det Insp Reya replied: 'Wherever the evidence leads us we'll be looking to do warrants.'

She was also keen to point out the importance of the public in the investigation.

'I'd like to stress that we've got this far because of people coming forward with information and intelligence,' said Det Insp Reya.

'I want people to know that we are listening to what they're telling us, we are responding to that information and doing something positive about it.'

Anyone else with information can contact the police anonymously on 08452 777 444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.