A SOUTH Yorkshire prosecutor and police officers have been praised by a city judge for bringing 22 drug pushers to justice.
Brian Outhwaite, from the Crown Prosecution Service, and the police officers involved in Operation Glean received commendations after the success of the crackdown.
Police arrested 22 drug dealers, 21 of whom were jailed for selling drugs in and ar
ound the Castle Markets area, in a series of raids across the city in September.
The raids followed months of surveillance and undercover police work.
Judge Michael Murphy QC issued the commendations yesterday.
Brian Outhwaite said: "Operation Glean was a complex investigation and prosecution, which required close co-operative working between the Crown Prosecution Service and South Yorkshire Police from the outset.
"This was essential in building strong cases against the different defendants. These people were caught red handed and have paid with their freedom.
"Naturally I am proud that our efforts in bringing these cases to court have been acknowledged by the judge.
"Drugs dealers must understand that we will continue to make strenuous efforts to curtail their illegal activities.
"I am also very pleased to have been able to play a part in making South Yorkshire a safer place in which to live."
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