Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB Published: 15 August 2008
20 jailed after raid on Blackstock Road
TWENTY men have been jailed for up to five years each after being arrested following a massive police raid on Blackstock Road on March 27. A further 15 men are still to be dealt with by the courts and one man has been given a suspended sentence for supplying cannabis and handling stolen goods.
The offences range from handling stolen goods, selling cannabis and heroin and money laundering to forging and supplying counterfeit documents.
In total 80 people were arrested following the “Operation Mista” raids with 36 eventually being charged. Officers have managed to secure anti-social behaviour orders banning seven of the men arrested from returning to the area for some time.
Borough commander Chief Supt Bob Carr said: “They are all positive sentences and reflect the quality of the evidence put before the court. “The fact they were almost all guilty pleas also reflects that the evidence was ongoing. “Operation Mista was the result of a lengthy police operation targeting criminals in Blackstock Road,” he said.