Huge crime raid: Drugs, designer gear, and over £100k seized

A crackdown on organised crime has resulted in three Bournemouth men appearing in court, following a series of high-profile raids across Dorset.

The operation, which lasted two days, was led by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit with support from Dorset Police and targeted alleged drug trafficking and money laundering operations. On January 23, the following three men appeared in Poole Magistrates’ Court:

Caspian Tang (19) of Roseberry Road, Bournemouth, is facing charges of conspiring to launder criminal property, class A drug supply, and possession with intent to supply a class A substance.

Ben Muslin (22) of Bath Road, Bournemouth, charged with conspiring to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer, or remove criminal property.

Richard Sills (66) of Bradford Road, Bournemouth, was also charged with conspiracy to conceal/transfer criminal property.

The trio has been remanded in custody. Their next appearance is scheduled for February 26, at Bournemouth Crown Court.

The police operation resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of illegal goods and luxury items. Investigators recovered: 70kg of cannabis, 0.5kg of cocaine, over 100,000 in cash, watches, designer clothes, jewellery and a variety of weapons.

This operation is reflective of a growing national trend. In 2024, UK police forces seized over 119 tonnes of illegal drugs, a 52% increase on 2023.

Cannabis seizures, like the 70kg retrieved in this raid, reached a high of over 74 tonnes last year.

Along with the increase in raids seizing drugs, there has also been a significant increase in illegal cash seizures. Forfeiture orders reached 70.1 million this financial year, with over 70% of that coming from local police forces.

While the three men await their Crown Court dates, six other individuals were arrested during the raids and have since been released under investigation.

Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding local criminal activity to contact Dorset Police via 101 or their website. Crime stoppers can be reached at 0800 555 111 for anonymous contact.