A year-long crackdown on drugs in Lozells and Handsworth has seen hundreds-of-thousands of pounds of drugs taken off the streets of Birmingham in 2012.

Officers forcing entry to an address during a recent drugs warrant. Over half-a-million pounds worth of cash and drugs were seized over the 12 month period across the ward, with officers taking action following concerns raised by local residents.

A total of 449 cannabis plants were seized throughout the year, including 94 mature plants and 140 seedlings from an address in Alfred Road.

Officers also seized one-and-a-half kilograms of cannabis that was bagged up ready for sale in 2012. This included one warrant that resulted in half-a-kilo of the drug being recovered from an address in Robert Road.

Heroin was also seized during 12 of the warrants, with an estimated street value of £25,000.

In excess of 200 grams of crack cocaine was also seized, with one warrant back in February resulting in a large ball of the drug being found in a car outside an address in Albert Road.

As well as these drug seizures, officers from the team uncovered and confiscated more than £250,000 worth of cash suspected of being gained through criminal means.

This money, seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, will be redistributed into the local charities, support groups and various youth organisations.

Inspector Karen Geddes, responsible for policing across the Perry Barr constituency, said: “The Lozells and East Handsworth neighbourhood team have been relentless in identifying and taking action against drug crime.