Monkey Dust Supply Arrests Birmingham Staffordshire Operation Rivent Drug Bust,Birmingham 2026

Key Points

• Two people arrested in Birmingham on suspicion of monkey dust supply offences connected to Staffordshire
• Arrests part of Staffordshire Police’s Operation Rivent, a force priority targeting monkey dust supply
• Since November 2025, Operation Rivent has resulted in 25 arrests for monkey dust-related offences
• Police have seized almost £20,000 cash and 18 drug seizures including Class A, B, and C drugs
• Approximately 25kg of monkey dust worth around £1.5 million was seized from a van in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
• Six people have been charged with offences including possession with intent to supply and possession of offensive weapons
• Monkey dust is a synthetic cathinone classified as a Class B drug
• Stoke-on-Trent has been labelled the “monkey dust capital of the UK” since at least 2013
• Chief Superintendent Victoria Downing stated police are determined to disrupt drug supply across Staffordshire
• A task force was announced in April 2026 to create a more coordinated response to monkey dust in the city

Birmingham Crime(Birmingham Express)June 04, 2026 – Two people have been arrested in Birmingham on suspicion of monkey dust supply offences in Staffordshire, marking the latest development in Staffordshire Police’s ongoing crackdown on synthetic cathinone distribution across the region. The arrests represent a significant escalation in law enforcement efforts to disrupt the supply chain of what has become one of the most problematic drugs in the West Midlands.

As reported by The Editor of Stoke NUB News, the two individuals were taken into custody following intelligence-led operations targeting drug distribution networks that span across county boundaries. The suspects are currently remaining in police custody while inquiries continue, according to official statements from Staffordshire Police.

How Does Operation Rivent Fit Into the Broader Crackdown on Monkey Dust?

The arrests form part of Operation Rivent, which Staffordshire Police has designated as a “force priority” since the end of November 2025. As reported by Stoke NUB News, the operation has seen 25 people arrested on suspicion of monkey-dust related offences over the past several months.

According to the same report, officers have carried out 18 separate drug seizures including Class A, B and C drugs during Operation Rivent. The operation has also resulted in eight cash seizures totalling £19,835, two weapons seizures, a BB gun seizure, three vehicle seizures, and six mobile phone seizures.

Chief Superintendent Victoria Downing of the Staffordshire Police major and organised crime department stated: “We are determined to disrupt the supply of drugs across Staffordshire and I’m pleased we have been able to seize these substances. We continue to do all we can to follow-up intelligence and act robustly to prevent the circulation of drugs in our county”.

What Severity of Drugs and Cash Has Been Seized During These Operations?

A particularly significant seizure occurred in December 2025 when Staffordshire Police uncovered approximately 25kg of monkey dust from a van in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. As reported by BBC News, the seized substance was worth around £1.5 million.

The van was parked on a street off Weston Coyney Road, near the junction of the A520 Weston Road, in Longton when officers apprehended the vehicle. Inside, they found around 25kg of ‘monkey dust’, a synthetic cathinone, according to Hello Rayo.

In a separate February 2026 operation, as reported by The Editor of Stoke NUB News, officers raided a property on Uttoxeter Road in Longton and another on Harrowby Road in Meir on Monday, 2 February. A number of sandwich bags containing brown and cream-coloured powder were recovered along with cash and mobile phones.

The 27-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug, attempt to possess with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A – crack cocaine, and attempt to possess with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class B. The 28-year-old of Stoke-on-Trent was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs – crack cocaine.

Why Has Stoke-on-Trent Become Known as the Monkey Dust Capital of the UK?

Monkey dust, chemically known as MDPHP, has been taken in Stoke-on-Trent since at least 2013, according to ITV News. In 2016, concerns about its prevalence in the city escalated after police released footage of people, believed to be under the influence of monkey dust, behaving in extreme ways.

Experts described an “epidemic” in the city at that time, and the media labelled Stoke as the monkey dust capital of the UK. Now, a decade after it was first recognised, drugs suspected to be “dust” seized by Staffordshire Police are finally being tested to understand why Stoke-on-Trent seems to have such a problem with monkey dust.

In April 2026, as reported by BBC News, MP Allison Gardner announced the formation of a task force to tackle the city’s monkey dust problem, saying the group will look at creating a more co-ordinated response to the issue.

What Charges Have Been Filed Against Those Arrested in Monkey Dust Operations?

So far, out of those arrested under Operation Rivent, six people have been charged with offences ranging from possession with intent to supply, possession of offensive weapons, and possession of drug-line phones.

In May 2026, as reported by Stoke NUB News, a 37-year-old man named Dean Hulme of Stafford was charged with possession with intent to supply Class B drugs (monkey dust), being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs (monkey dust), and possession of criminal property. Hulme was due to appear at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on Tuesday, 12 May.

Staffordshire Police stated: “We continue to do all we can to disrupt the supply of monkey dust in Staffordshire as part of our dedicated force priority, Operation Rivent”.

In an earlier incident from June 2021, as reported by Moorlands Radio, two women from Bedfordshire named Lara Kean (21) and Kayleigh Kinsella (22) were charged on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled Class B drug after approximately eight kilograms of the drug, believed worth approximately £300,000, was seized. Kean was released on conditional bail following a court appearance whilst Kinsella was remanded in custody.

What Impact Is Monkey Dust Having on Local Communities and Businesses?

The impact of monkey dust extends beyond criminal justice into everyday community life. In October 2025, as reported by BBC News, pharmacy staff in Stoke-on-Trent had to restrain a ‘monkey dust user’, prompting pharmacist Navid Kaleem to call for more support for drug users in his city.

Recent law enforcement actions and incidents in Stoke-on-Trent reveal a concerning trend of drug-related crimes and violent assaults impacting local community safety, according to a December 2025 analysis. Two significant drug busts targeting the supply of monkey dust have resulted in the charging of men aged 22 and 32, highlighting police efforts to disrupt the manufacture and distribution of dangerous drugs in the area.

In May 2026, a discarded Coca-Cola can led to the arrest of a 29-year-old man on suspicion of a series of drugs offences, as reported by Birmingham Mail. The red Coca-Cola can was found after it was thrown into a garden off Somerset Road in Stafford on Tuesday, 5 May, with suspected Class B drugs (monkey dust) compacted inside. That discovery led to the search of a property where further suspected monkey dust, cannabis, scales, snap bags, and £2,000 in cash were found.

What Is Monkey Dust and How Has the Government Responded?

Monkey dust is a synthetic cathinone classified as a Class B drug. In May 2023, as reported by GOV.UK, the government sought advice on ‘monkey dust’ with the harms of synthetic cathinones to be re-assessed to see if some or all, including ‘monkey dust’, may need reclassifying.

Vice reported in July 2024 that while lurid headlines about “glass-eating zombies” dominate media coverage, the reality hides a much more shocking story of government neglect.

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Background: The Development of Monkey Dust Enforcement in Staffordshire

The crackdown on monkey dust in Staffordshire has evolved significantly over the past decade. Monkey dust (MDPHP) first emerged in Stoke-on-Trent around 2013, but it was not until 2016 that police publicly released footage showing the drug’s devastating effects on users. The media response was swift, with Stoke-on-Trent being labelled the “monkey dust capital of the UK”.

For years, enforcement remained fragmented until Operation Rivent was launched at the end of November 2025 as a “force priority” for Staffordshire Police. This represents a strategic shift toward coordinated, intelligence-led operations targeting supply networks rather than just individual users.

The December 2025 seizure of 25kg of monkey dust worth £1.5 million from a van in Longton marked a turning point, demonstrating the scale of the drug trade operating in the region. This seizure, combined with the February 2026 arrests and the May 2026 task force announcement by MP Allison Gardner, shows escalating governmental and law enforcement attention.

The government’s 2023 request for advice on reclassifying synthetic cathinones indicates official recognition that existing drug policies may be inadequate. Meanwhile, local professionals like pharmacist Navid Kaleem have been calling for increased support services alongside enforcement.

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Staffordshire Residents and Communities

The continuation and intensification of Operation Rivent will likely have significant effects on multiple audiences across Staffordshire. For local residents in areas like Longton, Meir, and Stoke-on-Trent, increased police presence and intelligence-led operations should result in reduced visible drug dealing on streets and in residential properties. However, enforcement pressure may also displace drug activity to neighbouring areas or push it further underground.

For families affected by monkey dust addiction, the dual approach of enforcement and the newly announced task force may eventually lead to better support services. MP Allison Gardner’s task force explicitly aims to create a “more co-ordinated response” which could mean improved access to treatment and harm reduction resources alongside continued crackdowns on suppliers.

Young people in Staffordshire communities should see reduced availability of monkey dust as supply chains are disrupted. With 25 arrests already made and six people charged under Operation Rivent, the message to potential suppliers is clear that police are actively pursuing those involved in the drug trade.

For local businesses, particularly pharmacies and shops in high-affected areas, the increased enforcement should reduce incidents like the one where pharmacy staff had to restrain a monkey dust user. However, businesses may also face continued disruption while enforcement operations continue.

The criminal justice system in North Staffordshire will likely see increased caseloads as more people are charged with monkey dust-related offences. Dean Hulme’s appearance at North Staffordshire Justice Centre in May 2026 represents just one of many cases expected to progress through the courts as Operation Rivent continues.

For the broader West Midlands region, the Birmingham arrests demonstrate that monkey dust supply networks cross county boundaries, suggesting that neighbouring police forces may need to coordinate more closely with Staffordshire Police to address the regional nature of the problem.