Police Titan grip on rogue truckers

POLICE have launched a regional crackdown on haulage firms and truck drivers involved in organised crime.

Titan, the North-West’s regional crime unit, is leading the operation — codenamed “Hedgehunter” — aimed at disrupting criminal activity by rogue elements within the industry.

The 12-month campaign aims to stop drugs, guns, illegal tobacco and dangerous fake alcohol from being smuggled into the UK from overseas.

Contraband
Police will carry out roadside checks in a bid to uncover illegal loads. A high-profile awareness drive will also encourage the public to report any information anonymously to Crimestoppers.

Leaflets with an eye-catching image of a set of truck doors with the slogan: “Illegal load on board?” will be placed by Border Force officers in the passports of truck drivers going through security checks at key ports.

Detective chief inspector Janet Hudson said: “Almost all organised crime affecting the North-West involves commodities like drugs, weapons or contraband crossing our borders illegally and end up fuelling crime on the streets of our communities and damaging people’s lives.

“By targeting rogue elements within the haulage industry we are disrupting this supply chain, driving the criminal element out of trucking and firing a warning shot across their bows that we are going to be looking very closely at them.

“The vast majority of firms are run by decent, law-abiding people who are simply trying to run a legitimate business and make a living. But they are not competing on a level playing field because some of their rivals are using the proceeds from organised crime to expand their business unfairly.”