In the quiet of a Tuesday morning in Old Basford, a coordinated police operation pulled back the curtain on what authorities describe as a large drugs den on Bulwell Lane. Two local men — Leon Smart, 34, and Elen Ekpaloba, 25 — now face charges of supplying cannabis, mamba, and cocaine, as well as holding criminal property. Their arrest is both a singular event and a signal: that the slow erosion of neighbourhood safety by drug networks is being met with deliberate, organised resistance.
Two charged after large drugs den discovered in Old Basford
A large suspected drugs den discovered and dismantled
Mark
So this was a planned operation, not something reactive—they knew what they were looking for?
Mimi
That's what the warrant suggests. They had intelligence, they assembled specialist teams, and they executed it early in the morning. That's deliberate.
Luke
But we don't know what triggered the intelligence. A tip-off? Surveillance? The source doesn't say.
Mark
Two people living at the same address, both charged with the same offences. Were they working together?
Mimi
The charges are identical, which suggests they were both involved in the operation of the den. But the court documents and charges don't spell out their individual roles.
Luke
Right—we know they were arrested there and charged together, but we don't know if one was the operator and one was a user, or if they were equal partners. The charges don't tell us that.
Mark
What's "criminal property" in this context?
Mimi
Usually it means money or goods that came from drug dealing. Cash, a car, electronics—anything bought with proceeds from the supply operation.
Luke
But again, we're not told what was actually seized. The source just says they were charged with possession of it.
Mark
Will they go to trial or plead guilty?
Mimi
That's unknown. They're remanded in custody pending Crown Court, but what happens there depends on how they respond to the charges.
Luke
And we won't know the outcome of the case from this reporting. This is just the charging stage.
Il Polso
- A pre-dawn warrant brought multiple specialist police teams to a residential street in Old Basford, revealing a substantial suspected drugs operation hidden in plain sight.
- Two men were charged within days — not just with supply of three different drugs, but with possession of criminal property, suggesting the operation had generated significant illicit wealth.
- Both defendants appeared before magistrates just 48 hours after their arrest and were remanded in custody, denied bail as the case escalates toward Crown Court.
- Neighbourhood Inspector Gordon Fenwick made clear this was not a one-off raid but part of an active, intelligence-led strategy to dismantle drug supply networks across the city.
- Residents are being invited into the effort — with both named and anonymous reporting lines kept open as police signal that community intelligence drives these operations forward.
In the quiet of a Tuesday morning in Old Basford, a coordinated police operation pulled back the curtain on what authorities describe as a large drugs den on Bulwell Lane. Two local men — Leon Smart, 34, and Elen Ekpaloba, 25 — now face charges of supplying cannabis, mamba, and cocaine, as well as holding criminal property. Their arrest is both a singular event and a signal: that the slow erosion of neighbourhood safety by drug networks is being met with deliberate, organised resistance.
On the morning of 21 September, police arrived at a property on Bulwell Lane in Old Basford armed with a warrant and backed by specialist teams. What they found inside was significant: a large suspected drugs den operating within a residential neighbourhood.
Two men were arrested at the scene — Leon Smart, 34, and Elen Ekpaloba, 25, both from the Basford area. Within days, both were charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis, mamba, and cocaine, as well as possession of criminal property — a charge that typically points to assets believed to have been accumulated through dealing.
On 23 September, the pair appeared before Nottingham Magistrates' Court, where they were remanded in custody pending further proceedings at Nottingham Crown Court. No date for that hearing has yet been confirmed.
Neighbourhood Inspector Gordon Fenwick described the operation as part of a sustained, intelligence-led effort to tackle drug activity in residential areas. Police have kept two reporting channels open for residents: 101 for those willing to give their name, and Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 for those who prefer to remain anonymous.
On the morning of September 21, police officers arrived at a property on Bulwell Lane in Old Basford with a warrant in hand. The operation, which began around 8:30 a.m., involved multiple specialist policing teams working in coordination. What they found inside was substantial enough to warrant serious charges: a large suspected drugs den.
Two men were arrested that morning. Leon Smart, 34, and Elen Ekpaloba, 25, both lived on Bulwell Lane in the Basford area. Within days of their arrest, both were charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis, mamba, and cocaine. They were also charged with possession of criminal property, a charge that typically follows when cash, vehicles, or other assets are believed to have been obtained through drug dealing.
Two days after the warrant, on September 23, both men appeared before Nottingham Magistrates' Court. The court remanded them in custody, meaning they were held rather than released on bail while awaiting trial. Their case will move forward to Nottingham Crown Court, where more serious charges are typically handled, though no date for that appearance has yet been set.
Neighbourhood Inspector Gordon Fenwick framed the operation as part of a broader enforcement strategy. He emphasized that the police take all information they receive seriously and act on intelligence about drug activity. The message was clear: the force is actively targeting drug dealing in residential areas across the city.
For residents who have witnessed drug dealing in their own neighbourhoods, Nottinghamshire Police has left two avenues open. Those willing to provide their names can call 101. Those who prefer anonymity can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The case against Smart and Ekpaloba will continue through the Crown Court system, but the broader work of identifying and disrupting drug supply networks in Basford and surrounding areas remains ongoing.
Citazioni salienti
We take every single piece of information we receive seriously and will always act on intelligence. We are actively cracking down on drug dealing in our neighbourhoods.— Neighbourhood Inspector Gordon Fenwick
Vuoi la storia completa?
Leggi l'originale su Nottinghamshire Live ↗
Crime & Justice