Three Charged Following Major Drug Seizures in Chippenham
Three men are due to appear in court after Wiltshire Police executed warrants in Chippenham, uncovering a significant quantity of suspected Class A and B drugs. The proactive operations, conducted on separate properties, have led to multiple charges related to the supply of cocaine, ketamine, cannabis, and ecstasy.
Details of the Charges and Suspects
The charges follow the execution of a warrant at an address in Kings Avenue, Chippenham. Ashraful Islam, 21, of Oakfields, Chippenham, has been charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine, ketamine, cannabis, and ecstasy. Two other men, Charlie Salmon, 21, of High Street, Upper Tadmarton, Oxfordshire, and Romelleo Da Silva, 41, of Marshfield Road, Chippenham, have each been charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine. All three individuals have been remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear at Swindon Magistrates’ Court.
Scale of the Drug Seizure
During the search at the Kings Avenue property, officers seized a substantial quantity of controlled drugs. The official inventory includes more than 2.5 kilograms of ketamine, 300 grams of cocaine, and 1 kilogram of cannabis. A subsequent warrant was carried out at a flat in Chelwood Close, Chippenham, where additional cocaine was recovered. The total street value of the seized substances has not been officially disclosed, but quantities of this scale typically represent a significant disruption to local supply chains.
Legal Action and Community Impact
In addition to the arrests and charges, police have secured a closure order for the property in Kings Avenue. This civil order, granted under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, makes it a criminal offence for any person not named on the order to enter or remain at the address. Such measures are used to prevent the premises from being used for criminal activity and to protect the local community from associated nuisance and disorder.
These charges fall under the Serious Crime Act 2015 and the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. “Being concerned in the supply” is a broad legal offence that can encompass a range of roles within a supply chain, from direct dealing to logistical support. The case highlights ongoing police efforts to tackle county lines drug trafficking and urban supply networks impacting towns like Chippenham.
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Image Credit: www.wiltshire999s.co.uk
