Two dozen arrests and drugs seized in Wiltshire in week of County Lines action

25 people were arrested and more than £33,000 in cash was seized in Wiltshire as part of a regional week of action targeting drug supply networks across the area.

The latest week of intensification as part of the Operation Scorpion initiative involved a range of enforcement action carried out across the region, as well as education and prevention work taking place.

Wiltshire Police, Avon & Somerset Police, Devon & Cornwall Police, Dorset Police, and Gloucestershire Constabulary teamed up with the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) to harness their collective capabilities in disrupting the supply of illegal drugs in the region. The operation also coincided with the national County Lines Intensification Week (CLIW).

In Wiltshire:

25 people were arrested, including eight drug line holders who were charged and remanded
£33,531 cash was seized
1.3kg of cannabis, 0.95kg cocaine, 143g crack, 160g heroin, 125g ketamine, 316 Valium pills and 107 MDMA pills were seized
A Surron bike, 3 e-bikes and 3 motorcross bikes were seized
14 drug lines were disrupted and seized, removing them from operation
10 people were safeguarded
1 firearm seized, a Torch Taser, plus 13 other weapons including knives and machetes
In total across the region, 102 people were arrested, 65kg of cocaine, 13kg of cannabis and £119,326 cash were seized, and an estimated 29 county lines shut down. Full results can be found below.

Research shows that across the region more local children and vulnerable people in our communities are being exploited to supply and store drugs.

During this latest operation, forces had a focus around those who exploit children, enable drug dealers to operate in our communities or look the other way.

Work was also carried out with young people and schools to educate them around the risks associated with illegal vapes. Not only do they pose serious health risks, it is believed criminals are recruiting young people to sell these illegal products, opening them up to potential further exploitation.

Detective Chief Inspector Charlotte Tucker, of Wiltshire Police, said: “By working together across the region, it gives us the best opportunity to tackle suspected criminal networks who are operating across our Force areas and exploiting vulnerable people, particularly young children.

“As well as robust enforcement activity, we also recognise the need to target those sectors where these criminal networks may be operating, to highlight the signs to look out for and encourage reporting so we can safeguard vulnerable people and maximise our intelligence picture.

“We will continue to work together to tackle these issues and make the South West a hostile environment for these suspected criminals to operate in.

“Our work continues to be supported by information and intelligence we receive from our communities, and we would continue to urge anyone with information relating to child exploitation or suspected drug related activity to please report it to us.”