POLICE HELD IN DRUG CASE

Two police officers were among 11 men arrested on drugs charges yesterday in
a major anti-corruption operation, Scotland Yard said.

The men were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine and
conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The arrests followed a six-month covert operation into an alleged conspiracy
involving a child custody case led by CIB3, the complaints investigation
bureau set up last year to expose serious corruption in the Metropolitan police.

One of the arrested officers has been suspended while the other, based at a
south-east London police station, was likely to face suspension, Scotland
Yard said.

More than 140 officers from the bureau took part in the operation, which
involved searches of 23 homes and businesses in south London and Kent,
including two unidentified police premises. Investigating officers seized
documents and the men were taken to central London police stations for
questioning. Greater Manchester police assisted in the operation.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Wood, who heads the bureau, said: "Our
operation was the culmination of six months' dedicated work by officers from
the squad which led to the interception of a cynical and vicious attempt to
undermine the civil and criminal justice systems."

Scotland Yard said: "No one has been charged as yet. We are not saying how
much cocaine was involved but it was enough to give the impression of
supplying." No other arrests were pending in connection with the charges.

The bureau was set up in January 1998, with a team of 200 officers briefed
to seek out serious corruption in the Met using "sting" operations involving
hi-tech surveillance techniques.

Earlier this year Mr Wood admitted that his squad had uncovered officers
taking cash bribes to pervert the course of justice ranging from pounds
5,000 to reduce a prison sentence up to pounds 100,000 to sabotage a major
court case.

Sixty people have been charged with offences as a result of bureau
investigations since its inception, 26 of whom were serving officers and 12
former policemen. Corruption charges are pending against some 20 officers
who are on police bail.