Police are planning to launch a hard line crackdown on drug dealers similar to Operation Cleansweep.

Cleansweep resulted in a huge number of arrests as undercover Police officers launched a systematic assault against street dealers.

The controversial campaign launched by former Police Commissioner Colin Coxall in 1997 involved undercover US Drugs Enforcement Administration officers buying drugs and was headed up by a Scotland Yard detective.

Information gleaned from arresting petty dealers as part of the crackdown to claim back drug-infested neighbourhoods was used to try to snare the pushers further up the supply chain.

Chief Inspector Larry Smith of the Narcotics Division revealed at a public meeting on Thursday that Police were planning another operation similar to Cleansweep.

But current Commissioner Jean Jacques Lemay hinted the new anti-drugs offensive would be different from Cleansweep, which he claimed did not offer value for money.

Ch. Insp. Smith told the Progressive Labour Party public meeting on crime's audience: "I've spoken to the Commissioner and we are hoping to initiate some form of Cleansweep.

"We are hoping to initiate something similar in nature but it takes time.'' After the Hamilton Parish PLP meeting, which was held at the Francis Patton School, Ch. Insp. Smith refused to reveal any other details.

Mr. Lemay, who was also at the meeting, appeared to rule out a copycat Operation Cleansweep.

He said: "Operation Cleansweep focused on 40 individuals. Thirty were arrested and 22 convicted.

"The amount of drugs seized was insignificant in terms of what we put into it. It cost about $200,000.

"Ch. Insp. Smith's team have had more seizures and more arrests in less time than it took Cleansweep, in six months. We have a capability of doing our own operation by utilising our resources.'' Jean Jacques Lemay