Police Crackdown Seizes £3M in Drugs and Sees 1,660 Arrests
The policing minister joined an early-morning raid in southeast London as part of a nationwide crackdown on drug-related crime. The operation, known as “intensification week,” saw forces across England and Wales make 1,660 arrests, with 80-90% expected to face charges, reported by Yahoo. The raid also resulted in the closure of 261 county lines, the seizure of more than £3 million worth of drugs, 557 weapons, and the removal of four XL bully dogs from criminal activity.
The week-long operation, which ran from November 25 to December 2, focused on tackling county lines, a method of drug dealing where criminals use mobile phones to supply drugs from major cities to smaller towns and rural areas, often exploiting children as couriers. According to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), there are currently between 5,500 and 6,500 county lines operating across the UK. Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson described county lines as “one of the most violent and exploitative models of drug supply.”
During the raid, police also expressed concern over the rising involvement of children in these illegal activities. Dame Johnson said, “We are determined to stop these heartless gangs from luring young people into a life of crime.” The NPCC reported that 1,434 people were safeguarded during the crackdown, almost half of whom were children. Many were referred to specialist support services, and arrests were made for modern slavery offences.
Commander Paul Brogden, the NPCC lead for county lines, urged parents to be vigilant and aware of their children’s activities, stressing the importance of reporting any concerns to local authorities. He also noted a “welcome shift” in the age of children being recruited into the county lines network, with those involved gradually getting older.
A concerning development during the operation was the rise of synthetic opioids in the UK’s illegal drug market, although Mr. Brogden reassured that it had not yet become “embedded.” Police also reported that gangs were adapting to police tactics, with county lines becoming more “localised” to evade detection.
Over the course of the raids, police seized a staggering amount of drugs, including 5.2kg of crack cocaine, 6.1kg of heroin, 33.5kg of cocaine, and around 19,000 cannabis plants. They also confiscated nearly £2 million in cash and a variety of weapons, including knives, firearms, and even nunchucks. One notable arrest took place at an American sweet and vape shop, where officers seized a significant quantity of amphetamine and diazepam.