More than £1 million worth of drugs have been taken off the streets of Bangor following a major crackdown on organised crime in North Wales.

The figures come a year after the launch of Renew Bangor, a multi-agency project led by North Wales Police alongside partner organisations, aimed at tackling serious and organised crime in the city and surrounding areas.

Since March 2025, officers and partner agencies have carried out 75 targeted operations, resulting in £1.25 million worth of drugs being seized and £260,000 worth of criminal assets recovered. The activity has also led to 71 arrests for drink and drug driving.

Police say the project has focused not just on enforcement, but on improving everyday life for people living and working in Bangor. One key area has been the city centre, particularly the High Street, where anti-social behaviour has fallen by more than eight per cent. Officers have carried out over 800 hours of targeted patrols in areas highlighted by residents as hotspots for disorder.

The operation has also seen a number of significant seizures, including more than a kilogram of heroin, multiple kilograms of cocaine, a quantity of weapons and the dismantling of three cannabis farms.

Chief Inspector Stephen Pawson said the success of the project has been driven by close working between police, partners and the community. He said local people had played a vital role in identifying the issues that matter most, helping shape the response on the ground.

Renew Bangor is part of a wider approach used by North Wales Police known as Clear, Hold, Build—a long-term strategy designed to tackle organised crime groups at their roots. The “clear” phase focuses on targeted enforcement to disrupt criminal activity, followed by “hold” tactics to maintain a visible police presence and prevent offenders from returning. The final “build” phase works with partners and communities to strengthen neighbourhoods, reduce opportunities for crime and create lasting change.

Police say this approach is increasingly being used across North Wales to not only remove drugs and offenders, but also to reduce anti-social behaviour and improve community confidence.

Officers are continuing to urge anyone with information about serious and organised crime in Gwynedd to come forward, either by contacting police directly or anonymously through Crimestoppers.

With the first year of Renew Bangor showing clear results, the focus now is on maintaining that progress and ensuring communities across North Wales continue to feel safer.