Police Snatch Knife, Meat Cleaver, and Drugs in Two Dramatic Catches
In a double whammy of crime-busting on Wednesday, 9 September, Operation Venice officers seized a knife, a meat cleaver, and drugs in two separate incidents across East London.
High-Speed Moped Chase Ends with Drugs Haul
Marked police Scorpion riders spotted a silver Honda moped tearing through Bethnal Green. The rider blew past a red light and sped off, triggering a chase. He tore down pavements, darted the wrong way on one-way streets, and ignored more red lights. The reckless rider eventually bolted into a park, ditching the moped to run on foot.
Police caught him after a brief foot pursuit on Ropley Street, E2. The 30-year-old claimed he didn’t know they were cops. But checks revealed the moped had fake plates and no insurance. He was arrested for dangerous driving, failing to stop, aggravated taking and driving away, and riding without a licence.
A police dog sniffed out a white plastic tub behind trees near where the moped was abandoned. Inside were 26 wraps of white powder—suspected Class A drugs. The suspect was hit with an additional charge of possession with intent to supply and remains in custody.
Teens Nabbed with Meat Cleaver After Park Attack
Later that day, officers raced to Mile End Park following reports of a gang of teen males attacking a man with a large knife. En route, police learned one suspect had a meat cleaver. The group was spotted heading onto Bow Common Lane.
Six teenage males matching the description were stopped near Burdett Road. During searches, a 26-year-old man was caught with a large meat cleaver tucked into his waistband and a hefty kitchen knife in a bag on his bike. He was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon and remains in custody.
Sergeant McGovern Vows to Keep East London Safe
Sergeant Tony McGovern, from the Met’s Operation Venice, said: “Our units are deployed every day to disrupt drug supply and remove weapons from unsafe hands by stopping criminals from using motorbikes, mopeds and scooters to commit crime.”
