Big Bust in Birmingham: Weapons, £50K Cash & Fake Tobacco Nabbed
West Midlands Police have landed a major blow to organised crime in Birmingham. As part of Operation Fearless, officers seized weapons, over £50,000 in cash, and a huge stash of illegal tobacco. The crackdown aims to tackle retail theft, drug dealing, and anti-social behaviour in Birmingham city centre.
Weapons Found in Suspicious Vehicle Stop
At around 3:15pm on Thursday, 9 May, police stopped a suspicious vehicle on Pershore Street. Inside, they discovered a baseball bat, wooden club, metal bar, and a knuckle duster. The driver was arrested on the spot.
Cash and Counterfeit Tobacco Raided in Perry Barr
Follow-up searches led police to a property in Perry Barr. There, officers uncovered £40,000 in cash and a large amount of counterfeit tobacco being weighed and packaged for illegal sale. A separate search the same afternoon yielded another £10,000.
Five Arrested in Organised Crime Crackdown
Police arrested three men and two women in connection with the operation. The suspects face charges including:
- Conspiracy to defraud
- Possession of offensive weapons
The investigation is ongoing.
Police Speak Out on Operation’s Success
Detective Superintendent Jim Munro, leading Operation Fearless, said:
“This is the most significant success since we launched last week in Southside. It shows our determination to disrupt everything from anti-social behaviour to serious and organised crime.”
The operation forms part of a wider police drive to restore safety and order in Birmingham’s busiest districts.
