FOURTEEN people have been arrested from Basingstoke in just six days as part of a pre-planned drugs operation launched by police using specialised motorbikes.

Officers used the special motorbikes designed to be ridden on rural and urban land to target high-priority areas in the Basingstoke district.

A number of teams, including the Basingstoke Priority Crime Team, Northern Neighbourhood Enforcement Team and the Roads Policing Unit worked together for the mission.

Assisted with unmarked off-road red motorbikes, officers were able to arrest a total of 14 people between January 15 and 20.

READ MORE: Man assaulted with knife in Queen Mary Avenue

Nine people were arrested for drink and drug driving offences, three for possession with intent to supply, one for being concerned in the supply and one in relation to an immigration offence.

Throughout the five-day period, officers seized four e-scooters, six cars, one motorcycle and one electric bicycle.

Twenty traffic tickets were issued for offences including having no insurance, no tax, no MOT, and having an insecure load. Seven people and three cars were searched.

Following are some of the enforcements made by police:

On Wednesday, January 17, officers stopped a vehicle on the A30 in Basingstoke after suspecting that the driver was acting suspiciously. Suspected Class A drugs and cash was seized.

A 54-year-old woman from Basingstoke was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug and driving a vehicle while unfit through drugs.

She was also arrested on suspicion driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit. The woman was also arrested on suspicion of using a vehicle on a road without third-party insurance.

She has been released under investigation while our enquiries continue.

A passenger in the vehicle was also arrested and charged after officers found a knife in the vehicle.

On Wednesday, January 17, officers spotted a man on an electric bike on Sherbourne Road in Basingstoke, travelling at speed and using a phone.

Officers were able to stop him in an alleyway thanks to the off-road bikes they were using at the time.

The man was searched and suspected Class A drugs were found.

He was arrested on suspicion of attempting to possess a controlled drug of Class A and received a conditional caution, and must attend a drug diversion course.

On Friday, January 19, officers stopped a vehicle on Abbey Road, Basingstoke, and found drug paraphernalia and cash in the car.

A 20-year-old man from Basingstoke was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug and driving a vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit.

He has been released on bail until 19 April while our enquiries continue in relation to the drugs supply offence. He was released under investigation in relation to the driving offence.

Basingstoke Police Sergeant Karla Leese, from the Priority Crime Team, said: “Disrupting drug dealing and the impact it has on people in Basingstoke and Deane continues to be a priority for us.

“This pre-planned operation was a success and led to the arrests of 14 people over a five-day period.

“It was a collaborative effort across a number of teams and I’m pleased we were able to use the force’s new off-road bikes, which certainly helped us make arrests throughout the week.  

“Because this week was a success, we have further planned weeks of action as we continue our relentless pursuit of drug-related crime within the district.

SEE ALSO: Man attacked by an unknown weapon on Basingstoke footpath

“Where there are drugs, there is almost always violence which is why tackling and disrupting the supply of drugs is a vital part of our work to reduce violent crime and keep people safe.

“Please continue to tell us about any suspected drugs activity in your neighbourhood so we can safeguard children and vulnerable adults and bring offenders to justice.”

To make a report, you can contact police on 101 or make a report via hampshire.police.uk/.

If you don’t want to report to the police directly, you can report to the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website at crimestoppers-uk.org/