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Three charged after temple raid | Three charged after temple raid |
(about 12 hours later) | |
Three men have been charged with drugs offences following a police raid at a Rastafarian temple in south London. | Three men have been charged with drugs offences following a police raid at a Rastafarian temple in south London. |
Police believed the temple, a 32-room property in St Agnes Place, Kennington, was being used as a drugs "market". | |
Up to 100 armed officers raided the property early on Thursday and arrested 23 people. The site is the headquarters of the UK's Rastafarian community. | |
Jahlaw Salassie, Roderick Green and Fitzroy Pommel will appear before Camberwell Green magistrates. | Jahlaw Salassie, Roderick Green and Fitzroy Pommel will appear before Camberwell Green magistrates. |
Mr Pommel is also charged with two counts of possession of bullets. | |
Constant 'surveillance' | Constant 'surveillance' |
Mr Salassie, 40, Mr Green, 45, and Mr Pommel, 48, have been charged with conspiracy to supply Class C drugs. | Mr Salassie, 40, Mr Green, 45, and Mr Pommel, 48, have been charged with conspiracy to supply Class C drugs. |
Four of the 23 arrested have been cautioned for possession of cannabis, one of whom is still being detained for immigration matters. | Four of the 23 arrested have been cautioned for possession of cannabis, one of whom is still being detained for immigration matters. |
Three others are also remanded in custody over immigration issues. | Three others are also remanded in custody over immigration issues. |
The rest have been bailed pending further inquiries. | The rest have been bailed pending further inquiries. |
Several kilograms of cannabis, some crack cocaine and ammunition were found inside, said police. | Several kilograms of cannabis, some crack cocaine and ammunition were found inside, said police. |
The management committee said the centre was no longer used as a temple but the chaplain disputed the claim. | The management committee said the centre was no longer used as a temple but the chaplain disputed the claim. |
Police said 24-hour surveillance of the centre over the past six months had revealed it was being used as a drugs "market". | Police said 24-hour surveillance of the centre over the past six months had revealed it was being used as a drugs "market". |
Up to 600 people a day visited the centre, mostly buying drugs, according to police. | Up to 600 people a day visited the centre, mostly buying drugs, according to police. |