Cornish firearms operation followed drugs bust in Plymouth

Police confirm three men - all from Plymouth - have been arrested on suspicion of supplying cocaine

The arrest of a man in a quiet Cornish town by armed police officers took place following the seizure of suspected cocaine from a Plympton property, police have revealed.

On Sunday officers carrying G36 Heckler and Koch rifles as well as Glock 17 sidearms, were sighted on Broad Street, Penryn, appearing to focus their attentions on The Kings Arms public house.

The publicans later revealed the officers were looking for a wanted man who had been staying at the pub's hotel rooms for the past month.

Devon and Cornwall Police have now revealed the Penryn armed operation came about following the discovery of a large quantity of suspected cocaine from a property in Eight Acres Close in Plympton on Friday (May 22).

A police spokesperson revealed that during that incident a 37-year-old man from Plympton and a 20-year-old man from Stoke, Plymouth, were arrested on suspicion of possessing a Class A drug - cocaine - with intent to supply. Following interview at Charles Cross police station custody suite both men were released under investigation pending further inquiries.

The spokesperson confirmed that the force's specialist firearms officers, who are trained in dynamic entry, subsequently conducted an operation at The Kings Arms pub in Penryn on the afternoon of May 24 "to locate and arrest a suspect they believed to be linked with the discovery of the suspected drugs in Plympton".

A 23-year-old man from Plympton was located at the pub and he was arrested on suspicion of possessing a Class A drug - cocaine - with intent to supply and possessing a Class B drug - cannabis.

Following interview he was released on police bail until August 19 pending further inquiries.

Anyone with information about the investigation has been urged to call police on 101 or email 101@dc.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference number CR/040839/20