FOUR suspected drug dealers have been arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs following a chase through the streets of Worcester.

Officers seized the drugs from a pay and display car park near the Old Rectifying House in Worcester yesterday morning as part of Operation Blade.

Four men have been arrested and a ‘large quantity of class A drugs’ have been seized. A weapon – a lock knife – was also seized as part of the investigation which remains ongoing.

Three were from the West Midlands and one from Worcester.

They remain in custody and have yet to be charged.

Plain clothes detectives wearing gloves were on the scene at around 9am yesterday bagging up and recording evidence. A vehicle also formed part of the investigation.

Acting detective sergeant Luke Papps confirmed that the four were in police custody and enquiries were ongoing.

He said: “We were responding to public concerns about drug dealing activity in the area and this is a positive outcome.”

DS Papps said he would also like to thank the public for supplying the intelligence which led to the arrests but also assisting them during the short foot chase.

He said: “Can we thank those members of the public who assisted. They helped provide information about where one of the suspects had gone. We would always respond to concerns raised. We rely on the public to provide information which helps us with our ultimate aim to reduce crime.”

These arrests take the number so far to 109 in connection with Operation Blade since it was launched at the end of September last year. The aim of Operation Blade is to cut the supply of class A drugs from larger cities like Birmingham into small cities and county towns like Worcester and Malvern.

Operation Blade has already achieved some significant results, including custodial sentences for dealers.

We reported in July how three strikes dealer Rory Allen from Wednesbury was chased by officers who suspected him of dealing class A drugs at Foregate Street railway station in Worcester on March 13. He admitted being concerned in an offer to supply of heroin and crack cocaine, possession of a bladed article and possession of criminal property. The 30-year-old was jailed for five years. Also last month a drugs gang led by Asgar Khalfe was jailed for a total of 28 years.

Officers swooped on Khalfe and his lieutenants and chauffeurs, Christopher Franklin, Shakur Hussain and Terry Melsom in Worcester on October 16 last year. Franklin ran over a police officer, causing him serious leg injuries.