'CRACK DENS' SWOOP

A BLITZ on suspected crack dens has turned up thousands of pounds' worth of
drugs, guns - and a stolen kitchen.

A specialist task force in Southwark targeted 19 suspected crack houses
during a 10-day swoop, dubbed Operation Gaufron.

Officers with search warrants stormed addresses in Rotherhithe, Peckham and
Walworth, and found more than they bargained for. Their haul included what
is thought to be 298 wraps of heroin, 175 wraps of crack cocaine, 50g of
cocaine and 1kg of cannabis - all awaiting forensic analysis. Police also
discovered two handguns, several mobile phones and kitchen appliances and
units.

A Southwark police spokeswoman confirmed that the phones were believed to
be stolen.

The kitchen units had been reported allegedly stolen from a flat in
Rotherhithe, which had been undergoing refurbishment weeks earlier.

Detective Inspector Nicola Wall, in charge of the Southwark Borough Task
Force, said: "Operation Gaufron was the conclusion to weeks of hard work by
Southwark officers gathering intelligence, planning the tactics and working
with the local authority."

* Six people have been charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and crack
cocaine following raids on a series of addresses in Southwark between July
5 and 16.

Two have been charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine
and heroin and another for possession of heroin.

One person has been charged with handling stolen goods and another bailed
for possession of a firearm.