Deon P. Green, Gleaner Writer

LONDON, England:

A Jamaican woman has been taken into custody in Marylebone, North London on suspicion of running an illegal brothel and crack-cocaine den, police sources have confirmed.

Reports reaching The Gleaner are that crack dens are being targeted in a new drive by Marylebone police in North London, with dawn raids being carried out at locations believed to be harbouring drug dealers. The operation is aimed at cleaning up the streets and making the neighbourhoods safer for residents.

Brothel

In the latest raid, which took place in Newman Street recently, a team of 16 officers broke into a flat after tip-offs from people living nearby. It is understood that residents from neighbouring flats made complaints to the police because of the suspicious activities. When the raid was carried out the team discovered that the flat was also being run as a brothel. A specially trained sniffer dog was brought in and quantities of cash and cocaine were found.

Two females were arrested, one Albanian woman for possession of the class A drug and a Jamaican woman on suspicion of running the unlawful enterprise.

According to informed sources, more locations will be raided in the coming weeks as police continue to take a hard line on the illegal activities. The police said "strange men" were seen on the stairs at all hours of the day and night.

Pre-wrapped drugs

It was revealed that the drugs found at the flat were hidden in pre-wrapped packages hidden in cigarette packets and the linings of handbags. Each package was being sold for £50, while the girls at the flat were also taking hundreds of pounds each day for sex.

One of the prostitutes operating at the brothel, a 26-year-old from Portugal, is reported to have said there were many people like her operating in the area.

Following the raid, leaflets were delivered to neighbours to inform them the premises had been closed down. The residents were also assured that the raid had nothing to do with anti-terrorism operations.

Up to the time of reporting it could not be ascertained what charges had been laid against the Jamaican woman.