'Gang member who swallowed drugs' spends 17th day in police custody as cops wait for him to POO
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A suspected gang member who allegedly swallowed class A drugs is spending a 17th day in police custody as officers patiently wait for him to POO.
The man hasn't gone to the toilet since he was arrested more than two weeks ago, say police.
They are holding him until he stops holding out and finally has a bowel movement, officers have said.
Investigators believe they will find class A drugs once the alleged dealer passes whatever is in his system.
It's been a long wait for police, who say the man is being seen by a doctor every day and is doing "fine" even though he hasn't defecated since mid-January.
(Image: OpRaptorWest/Twitter)
The man, from London, allegedly swallowed the drugs before he was arrested by Essex Police on January 17.
At the time, police wrote on Twitter: "London gang nominal arrested for failing to stop for police and possession with intent to supply class A drugs, male doesn’t think we have the power to keep him until he removes said items from his bottom #thinkagain".
Since then the Operation Raptor team, which targets gangs and urban street crime, has been giving almost daily updates on the man's 'poo strike'.
(Image: OpRaptorWest/Twitter)
He has refused food while in custody at the station in Harlow, Essex, said police, and officers have repeatedly gone to court to have his detention order extended.
On Friday, police - who've been calling the bizarre saga 'poo watch' - went to court a third time and were given another week to keep the man in custody.
That will take them to February 9, unless he has a bowel movement before then.
(Image: OpRaptorWest/Twitter)
In their latest updates, police said they are still waiting for the man to go to the toilet or consent to a doctor removing whatever is in there.
Twitter users have expressed concern for the man's well-being or blasted him for "wasting" police time and resources, but police have reassured the public that he is just fine and they are willing to play the waiting game.
They said: "He is being seen daily by doctors and constantly watched, this is his own choice and so far his health is fine."
Police pointed out that 17 days is a record for the Operation Raptor West team, surpassing the previous mark of 12 set last year.
The man has been charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs, said police.