By Craig Evry

A DRUGS raid nicknamed Operation Coke was launched on a notorious Warminster estate in a bid to crack down on drugs.

Nine police officers from Warminster Crime Reduction Unit, Warminster CID and the traffic department raided an address in Portway Lane, arresting three men on suspicion of possessing heroin.

A 36-year-old man was arrested for possession of heroin with intent to supply.

He appeared at North West Wiltshire Magistrates' Court on Saturday and was remanded in custody until yesterday.

The two other men were arrested for possession of heroin.

This latest drug raid comes two weeks after a 36-year-old man was found unconscious, suffering from a suspected drugs overdose.

Mark Rawstron, field intelligence officer at Warminster and Westbury, believes the recent crackdown on hard drugs in the two towns has been a success.

He said: "We were concerned over the near-deaths in the past and were determined to solve the problem on the estate. Heroin is a very addictive drug. You just need to look at the people to see what damage it does.

"Around here there are people on a £200 a day habit. I hear about new cases every day.

"Warminster is at the moment a place where a lot of heroin is coming in. The amount of cases in Warminster and Westbury is amazing."

PC Rawstron said that without the help of the community most of the drug incidents would not have come to light.

He said: "With this raid we have had no problems or retribution and it can be a co-operative process. Discretion is the key."

The campaign against drugs in Warminster is due to continue unabated, with more officers able to concentrate on the issue after returning from working on recent incidents such as the drive-by shooting in Trowbridge and murder inquiries at Warminster and Westbury.

Anyone with information on any drug incidents can ring Warminster Crime Reduction Unit on (01225) 763101 ext 623.