Skip to main content

Chief Superintendent Mark Mathias from South Wales Police said: "Each addict can cost society not far off £850,000

Heroin addicts cost society £850,000 each, police warn
Photo: PA

Top officers warned of the increasing cost of drug-ravaged society with hundreds of millions is being spent on the increasing number of addicts.

Chief Superintendent Mark Mathias from South Wales Police said: "Each addict can cost society not far off £850,000.

"You work through all the treatment, all the criminal justice issues that arise - then you see a significant costs involved."

Police in Swansea have launched a £500,00 clampdown in the city known as the "heroin capital of Wales" where officers have seized 1,000 "deals" in the last two weeks.

Superintendent Phil Davies said: "Some of these drug dealers have stated they are untouchable.

"My message to them is there is no hiding place, we will find you, we will catch you and we will put you behind bars."

Addict Amy Protheroe, 20, who has been an addict since she was 13 has just started her fifth treatment programme in Swansea.

She said: "When you're a heroin addict you wake up and you think straight away: "Where am I going to get money from, where am I going to score from?'"

"You get up, you go out, you get the money for the heroin, you buy the heroin, you do the heroin and then it starts all over again.

"To be honest, heroin has wrecked my life."

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Steven Peter Hipwell, 32, was arrested by Cherng Talay Police on December 22 at 4.30 pm allegedly in possession of two bags of cocaine

Steven Peter Hipwell, 32, was arrested by Cherng Talay Police on December 22 at 4.30 pm allegedly in possession of two bags of cocaine totaling 0.6 and 0.7 grams. His arrest came in a sting operation involving another Englishman ,who had been arrested on drug charges by police in Patong days earlier.Police alleged that David Pet had been caught with cocaine on Nanai Road, and while being held he told police that Hipwell had sold him the drugs.Police then arranged a sting and raid on Hipwell's house, where David ''bought'' the cocaine while police waited outside.Police searched Hipwell's home. Officers said they found another small packet of cocaine in a money jar.Hipwell is being held in Phuket jail while the court considers bail.Both Pet and Hipwell were living and working in Phuket, police say

Mark Shady, is charged with 14 counts of delivery of cocaine, 15 counts of possession with intent to deliver, two counts of corrupt organizations

Mark Shady, 32, of 1362 Lusk Run Road, is charged with 14 counts of delivery of cocaine, 15 counts of possession with intent to deliver, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, according to state Attorney General Tom Corbett.Agents estimate the group was responsible for moving more than seven kilograms of cocaine with a street value of more than $780,000 since at least 2004. Corbett said the investigation started focusing mainly on Shady's alleged distribution of cocaine in Lock Haven, Williamsport and the surrounding areas. From there, agents were able to identify two of his cocaine sources.Evidence and testimony about the alleged criminal activity was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the charges being filed Friday. According to the grand jury, from March to August 2007, law enforcement agents made 14 cocaine purchases from Shady in Clinton County....

Jessica Guinyard, age 20, and De Anne Browne, age 21, both U.S. citizens, were arrested at Newark Airport in connection with the smuggling attempt.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested two women who attempted to smuggle more than 12 pounds of cocaine concealed in two false sided bags. Jessica Guinyard, age 20, and De Anne Browne, age 21, both U.S. citizens, were arrested at Newark Airport in connection with the smuggling attempt.On Wednesday afternoon, CBP officers selected Guinyard for a routine baggage inspection when she arrived on a flight from San Jose, Costa Rica. Guinyard presented one Pullman style bag for inspection. During her interview, Guinyard indicated that she was traveling with Browne. Upon examination of her bag, CBP officers noticed that the inside walls of the bag felt unusually thick and heavy. A probe of the inside walls revealed a white powdery substance which field tested positive for cocaine. Inspection of Browne’s bag also yielded false sides containing cocaine. “CBP is committed to interdicting narcotics at our ports of entry and identifying the perpetrators who facilitate such brazen attempts to s...