Dozens of armed police officers descended on an industrial estate in Coalville as part of a nationwide anti-drugs operation.

Shocked business owners and passers-by looked on as up to 50 officers raided a unit in Baker Street, off Mantle Lane, close to the town centre.

An eyewitness, who didn’t want to be named, said he was visiting a friend who runs a business from the site.

He said: “It happened shortly after 9am on Tuesday. We were stood chatting when the police arrived.

“They seemed to come from everywhere. They’d opened the main gate and went behind the back of the main building – it used to be a warehouse for the Co-op but has since been divided up into different units and lock-ups. It's a bit tatty and the road is still unadopted and full of pot holes.

“We were pretty shocked – gobsmacked to be perfectly honest. I’ve never seen anything like it – there were between 40 and 50 of them. Many were armed and there was also a dogs team.”

He added: “They ended up spending most of the day there. No-one was in the unit at the time but I saw police loading stuff onto trucks.

“I was surprised that most of the officers I saw were from Hampshire and not Leicestershire.”

It is understood that the raid was part of a co-ordinated national anti-drugs operation, with simultaneous raids also taking place at other locations.

Leicestershire Police said the operation was being led by their counterparts in Hampshire.

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A spokeswoman for Hampshire Constabulary said: “We can confirm that officers executed a warrant at an address in Baker Street, Coalville, on Tuesday December 4.

“Four men have been arrested, and three of them have been charged.”
They are:

• Wojceich Michalski (54), of Gilderdale, Luton, Bedfordshire, who has been charged with conspiring to supply a controlled drug of class B.
• Mariusz Norbert Musial (31), of Orchard Mead, Waterlooville, Hampshire, who has been charged with conspiring to supply a controlled drug of class B.
• Marcin Wielgus (42), of Waterhouse Street, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, who has been charged with conspiring to supply a controlled drug of class B.

Baker Street, Coalville



The spokeswoman said that the three men were remanded in custody to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court.

She added: “A 35-year-old man from Farnborough, Hampshire, was also arrested on suspicion of conspiring to supply a controlled drug of class B. He was released from custody but remains under investigation.

“For operational reasons we will not be able to disclose any further details.”