Major Drug Bust in Saltash and Liskeard Pubs: Police Operation Seizes Illegal Substances

In a bold undercover operation, Devon and Cornwall Police disrupted drug activity in local pubs in Saltash and Liskeard on Friday, June 7th.

The proactive effort, named Operation PAD (Pubs Against Drugs), involved multiple policing teams, including officers from Saltash, Liskeard, Torpoint, and Looe, along with Police Dog Skye and her handler, Police Constable Steve Waters.

Officers entering one of the licenced premises

A Strategic Sweep of Local Pubs

The operation targeted seven licensed premises—five in Saltash and two in Liskeard—with follow-up visits to maintain vigilance. Plain clothes officers were strategically placed in each pub to monitor suspicious behaviour. PD Skye, trained to detect illegal drugs, patrolled the venues, signalling to her handler when she identified a scent.

As a result, seven stop searches were conducted based on PD Skye’s alerts or suspicious behaviour observed by the plain clothes officers. These searches led to the seizure of suspected drugs from three individuals, who have been asked to attend voluntary interviews under caution, pending further testing of the seized substances.

An officer with a package of suspected illegal drugs, seized after a stop search was carried out after indication from PD Skye

Ensuring Compliance and Safety

Police Licencing Officer Nicola Henderson joined the operation, conducting drug wipes in all pub toilets to detect residues of substances like cocaine. Of the 14 toilets tested, eight returned positive results, which were reported to the venue managers. Additionally, two underage individuals were found drinking alcohol they had brought into a venue. These individuals were removed, and their alcohol was seized.

Community and Police Response

Sergeant Dan Lewis, leading the operation, emphasized the importance of making pubs safer and targeting resources effectively to combat drug use in smaller towns and rural areas. “We acted upon intelligence gathered from anonymous reports and by liaising directly with pub owners,” Dan stated, highlighting the collaborative effort to understand and address the presence of illegal drugs.

Nicola Henderson praised the cooperation from local licence holders, stating, “Licensed premises operators in East Cornwall have engaged really positively with Operation PAD to reduce the impact of drug-related crime and disorder within the evening and night-time economy.”

An officer carrying out a drug wipe test in a toilet

Looking Ahead

The operation not only removed suspected drugs but also reinforced community safety and engagement. Sergeant Dan Lewis concluded, “We plan to carry out similar evenings of action in the future, to further safeguard the community by taking drugs off of our streets, support local pubs with any issues they are facing, and reinforce the message that we do not tolerate the use or supply of illegal drugs.”

For more information about the legal consequences of carrying, taking, or supplying illegal drugs, visit the Government website. To report information about drug use or supply in your community, contact the police via their website or report anonymously through Crimestoppers.