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ONE hundred arrests and a million pounds worth of drugs — police have focused on disruption and dismantling county lines drug networks in the last two weeks.
Intensified activity across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has seen officers tackle drug related harm by arresting 100 suspected drug dealers, seizing 82 mobile phones, over £1 million pounds worth of drugs and almost £53,000 in cash, alongside weapons and a firearm.
The activity saw 17 drug networks disrupted, with police targeting individuals who ran either local or county lines, supplying crack cocaine and heroin.
Warrants took place in London and across Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport, Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton, the New Forest, Eastleigh and Isle of Wight over the last two weeks.
Overall a total of 88 men and 12 women were arrested.
Most offences were for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, with a few under modern day slavery legislation.
Neighbourhood officers visited cuckooed addresses across the region with 42 vulnerable people being identified and six safeguarded.
Cuckooing is when a drug dealer takes over the home of a vulnerable individual who often lives on their own. Like a cuckoo, the dealer moves in, takes over the property and turns it into a drugs den.
County lines is not a crime type but a drugs distribution model and involved criminals setting up a phone line through which they sell Class A drugs – mainly crack cocaine and heroin.
Those in charge of the phone line often recruit children and vulnerable young adults into trafficking the drugs all over the country to avoid detection. These individuals are often threatened with violence and are unable to escape.
Hampshire Constabulary has developed a deeper understanding of the drivers of county lines and how those running lines operate. It is now tackling it under the name Op Monument, alongside the Metropolitan Police’s Op Orochi.
The operation involved joint work with British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and Royal Mail.
The intensification period yielded the following results: 100 arrests, 24 vulnerable people identified, nine vulnerable juveniles engaged, £52,703.50 cash seized, 81.5 grams of crack cocaine and 91 wraps seized, 62g of heroin and 92 wraps seized.
Nine weapons were recovered, including machetes, knives, CS gas, air rifle and BB gun.
Detective Superintendent, Nick Plummer, head of serious organised crime, said: “Operations like this, which target the criminal exploitation of vulnerable people, are vital because we know this type of criminality drives a high proportion of violent crime in our communities.
“During these weeks of intensification we have identified vulnerable people, most of whom were victims of this type of exploitation, who we are now safeguarding and working with them to give support they need.
“If you are concerned or worried about a young or vulnerable person please contact your local safeguarding partnership website to seek help.”
Anyone with information on drugs can contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously.
