”It was like something out of Scarface”.
That was the description given by the licensee of a Lochee pub after it was raided by more than 40 police officers.
Furious Ann Marie Allan (54) said the police were ”over the top” when they swooped on Kelly’s Bar in an ”intelligence-led operation” on Friday afternoon.
One man was detained over alleged possession of a class A drug and £1,000 was seized from two people under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Ann Marie was working when the officers, some of whom were in riot gear, burst through the doors.
She said: ”I was really scared, then afterwards I got really angry.
”They raided my pub apparently on the back of some tip-offs from local people.
”But that could be anyone calling in.
”It might have been someone who is holding a grudge or someone I have barred.”’Ridiculous’The publican, who has been at the helm of the bar for six years, stressed she would never allow illegal drug activity in her premises.
”The police were over the top,” she continued.
”They could raid me every week and they would find nothing.
”If I had caught someone with drugs I would throw them out right away.
”The police could have handled the situation a lot better if they had come to me first.”
Former publican Christine Pettigrew, who for many years was in charge of JR’s before it changed its name to Kelly’s Bar, was also angered by the police action.
She said: ”Ann Marie is the best publican in Dundee and would never allow drugs on the premises.
”Over the whole time I had that pub I never had as many police in it as Ann Marie did on Friday.
”It was ridiculous.”
A dozen police vehicles screeched to a halt outside Kelly’s Bar before officers and dogs rushed inside.
The police said the operation had been carried out in a professional and efficient manner with no injuries caused to any officer or patrons.
Inspector Graham Young added that the operation was part of their efforts to tackle drug-dealing in the area.’More visible police presence’He said: ”I did have an expectation we would get a little more than we did.
”So from that point of view I’m a little disappointed.
”That said, there is a pleasure in finding the alleged drug-dealing activity is not so prevalent as had been suggested.”
Over the next week the police will visit every pub in Lochee to seek the support of licensees in tackling drug-dealing.
Lochee councillor Tom Ferguson expressed his wish to see more raids carried out across the city to clamp down on drug activity.
He added that he understands why people are upset over the recent raid but believes the action is necessary.
”These raids have to be targeted because of the intelligence,” he continued.
”The robustness of the intelligence will be proven at a later date.
”I would like to see a more visible police presence in Lochee to stop the habit of drug dealing in public.
”I have had many complaints about the perceived dealing in public places buthave had no complaints about Kelly’s Bar.”
Photo by Son of the Sea Photography