Police in Cumbria made 23 arrests and seized nearly £500,000-worth of suspected illegal cash during a week-long focus on county lines drugs crime.
Officers aiming to stop communities and people being exploited also confiscated weapons including a zombie knife, a knuckleduster and an electronic stun gun.
As well as this, preventative work took place with the aim of ensuring people – especially children – don’t get mixed up in the world of county lines in the first place.
County lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised networks involved in exporting drugs into other areas, using dedicated mobile phone lines.
The force said its officers worked all-year-round to tackle the threat from county lines drugs gangs and protect those potentially being exploited.
Throughout the week of action, from November 25 to December 1, law enforcement nationally collectively stepped up its response and enhanced active investigations.
Detective Inspector Sam Johnson said: “County lines can bring misery to communities, in the form of drug dealing and serious violence.
“That is why we work to catch those involved, disrupt these networks and stop gangs making inroads in the first place to prevent people being drawn in.”
Results of the week included:
- A stop of a vehicle near Penrith. £150,000 of cash was found and the driver arrested on suspicion of money laundering.
- Two charges after police in Carlisle seized crack cocaine and heroin.
- A man arrested in Barrow on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply and possession of an offensive weapon, with a knuckleduster seized.
- A search warrant executed in Kendal, with a bag seized including smoke bombs, a zombie knife, an electronic stun gun and a balaclava. One man was arrested.
- A stop of a vehicle on the M6 near Southwaite. £320,000 was seized and a man arrested on suspicion of money laundering.
- A man arrested on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm and money laundering following a stop in Barrow.
Det Insp Johnson said: “Let’s be clear: this is just a snapshot of the work our officers and staff carry out all-year-round.
“Ongoing work was intensified during this week of action – partly to make a statement to those involved in county lines so they know we will stop them.
“We will continue to pursue all drug traffickers and those who exploit people, including those using the county lines crime model.”
As well as enforcement, officers and staff seek to stop county lines drugs gangs getting a foothold in the first place by raising awareness and educating people about the risks and the signs it is happening.
Work carried out during the week included:
- Educational inputs to 200 primary and secondary school pupils in Carlisle.
- 12 visits to shops in Penrith to raise awareness among staff of signs of exploitation. This included linking up with the national charity The Children’s Society.
- A visit to Penrith train station, with staff members, vendors and customers spoken to as part of awareness raising.
- School pupils and staff spoken to in Barrow.
- Leaflet drops in Carlisle and Barrow.
- Hotels and bed-and-breakfasts visited to raise awareness.
- A community event was held in Carlisle alongside Well Communities, a recovery organisation that supports those recovering from addiction, to promote the prevention of exploitation.
Det Insp Johnson said: “Some of the harm and risk caused by county lines involves the exploitation of children and vulnerable people.
“This is why we do our best, alongside our partners, to educate children and teachers, as well as people in businesses or places where children might be found or stay while involved in county lines.”
During the week, officers also intercepted people suspected of involvement in other offences.
This included:
- A search of a vehicle where suspected counterfeit clothing and electronic equipment worth a total of £1.5 million were found.
- A search of a vehicle found with nearly 300 packets of suspected counterfeit cigarettes.
- Officers stopping a further vehicle with suspected counterfeit headphones and clothes worth an estimated £200,000.
Other agencies are involved in the investigations into these cases.
