THOUSANDS of pounds in cash, cannabis plants and drug-growing materials were seized by police in a series of raids.

Ten officers from North Yorkshire Police’s Neighbourhood Support Team (NST) and a drug sniffer dog were drafted in yesterday to assist the Acomb and Holgate Safer Neighbourhood Team as part of a day of action codenamed Operation Pardauk.

PC Mark Earnshaw, of the Neighbourhood Support Team, said the operation, which included the execution of outstanding drug warrants, would send a strong message to the community.

“By chasing these warrants we find a lot of stolen property, drugs, and cause a lot of disruption to drug dealers and criminals,” said PC Earnshaw.

“There are always two sides to every city, and this action sends a strong message to both of them.”

Police arrested three men in raids at two addresses in Acomb, under charges including possession with intent to supply, cultivation of cannabis, possession of a controlled drug, and obstructing police.

The first man, in his 20s, was arrested by officers in his flat off Acomb Road, after a search was carried out under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Police removed a large quantity of cash and a small amount of cannabis from the flat, and the man was later charged with possession of cannabis and obstructing police.

In the second raid, police arrived at a property in the New Lane area of Holgate to search a property, yards from a park.

During a search which lasted more than two hours, officers from the NST searched the house of the man in his 30s, as well as two vehicles belonging to the man, and removed a large quantity of cash, cannabis, and drug cultivation equipment.

Sergeant Mike Pickersgill, of Acomb and Holgate Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “All these actions have been carried out today as a result of the residents telling us about local issues.”

Operation Pardauk also saw Acomb’s Road Policing Group and the DVLA take to the roads around the A59 to monitor traffic, pull over speeding drivers, and promote road safety.

As a result of the action, one motorist was issued with a speeding ticket and three points for excessive speed, a formal warning was issued, and 12 drivers were reported for minor offences, including not wearing seatbelts.

Police community support officer Neil Thompson also took part in a leafleting campaign with a representative of Trading Standards, launching Doorsteppers – a cold calling control zone in Duchess Mews and Cranbrook Road, off Boroughbridge Road, York.

Under the new initiative, designed to protect elderly and vulnerable residents, bogus salesmen and callers returning to the designated cold-calling zone will be committing a criminal offence.