Police use riot gear in drugs raid at pub

Police dressed in riot gear carried out a dramatic raid on a popular Black Country town centre pub.

Around 65 officers descended on the Pig and Trumpet in Wednesbury last night and arrested three people following reports of drug dealing at the venue. Six riot vans arrived at the Market Place pub to carry out the raid shortly after 10pm where shocked revellers were rounded up and searched. And with police fearing public order offences, officers blocked off the pub using riot shields. More than 130 pub-goers were in the venue at the time of the raid.

People were led out one-by-one past sniffer dogs and escorted from the premises to a portable cabin where they received full body searches.

Three arrests were made, two for breach of anti-social behaviour orders and another for disorderly behaviour. Small quantities of Class B drugs, believed to be cannabis, were also recovered from the pub.

Inspector Akeel Najib, from Wednesbury Police Station, said officers had received information that customers were involved in the use and supply of Class A, B and C drugs.

"We're looking to address licensing because of the disorder this pub causes us," he said. "It causes us problems with anti-social behaviour at kicking out time."

He hailed the operation, called Operation Surety III, a success. "We've taken out some of the main targets we intended to," he said.

"We will not tolerate drugs in the town. The last thing we want to do is stop people drinking in Wednesbury, but we do want people to be able to that without the fear of drugs or disorder."