Suspects arrested in police swoop on pub

Police raided a busy Black Country pub in a planned operation to flush out suspected drug dealers.

More than 40 officers, including many in riot gear, swooped on The Queens pub in Norton Road, Pelsall, at around 9pm last night, while around 50 drinkers were inside.

At least three people were arrested for alleged drug offences, after customers and the premises were searched. A sniffer dog was deployed after officers took control of the venue.

Drinkers were kept inside as searches were carried out and staff were ordered to stop serving. The operation was carried out following months of complaints from residents in the area about alleged drug activity going on inside the pub.

Detectives were targeting alleged drug dealers who were known to use the pub, while other arrests were made on the night after some customers were found with suspected illegal substances in their possession.

DCI Lisa Robson, from Bloxwich police station, said: "All four targets were in the premises so it was successful from that point of view.

"The community impact will be massive. Local residents have been asking is to act for a while so we have.

"It has come from local residents who have been concerned about drug dealing in the pub for some months. This is the culmination of intelligence gathering over around six months.

"Anybody found in possession of drugs will be arrested and taken to Bloxwich and dealt with. There were 50 people in there. Most of them are here on a Friday night out in the village and we've explained to those people fully what is going on and they have been really understanding.

"We will be doing some community reassurance work and leaflet drops to the local residents explaining what was being done."

Officers from the licensing team were also present and will assess any issues affecting the pub's licence.

By Chris Moriarty