SIX ‘county lines’ drug gangs operating in Warwickshire have been disrupted during a week-long crackdown.
Operation Bracebridge was Warwickshire Police’s response to a national County Lines Intensification Week, which ran from March 7-13.
During the operation, officers busted two cannabis farms worth over £370,000, seized over £5,000 worth of crack and heroin, confiscated over £1,700 in cash, and arrested 29 people.
During the week, all police forces in England and Wales engaged in operations to crackdown on drugs traffickers and safeguard children and vulnerable people groomed to run drugs from one city to other parts of the country.
Warwickshire Police’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams ran a series of school workshops, awareness campaigns, safeguarding visits, patrols, and drop-in sessions with youth groups and community centres.
Det Ch Insp Neil Reader, Proactive CID, said “The intensification week has been successful in causing significant disruption to lines operating in the county and in generating intelligence that will be used to protect our communities and bring offenders to justice.
“The technical abilities available to police, and knowledge that has been gathered, mean county lines are no longer a low risk and high reward enterprise.
“We will continue to ensure that Warwickshire remains a hostile environment to these criminal gangs who inflict so much misery to individuals, families and communities through drug dealing, violence and exploitation.
“We cannot stop this criminality alone and we are grateful to our partners and the safeguarding groups and charities that are a vital tool in the fight against county lines. Members of the public also play a critical role in spotting signs of exploitation and reporting them to the police.”
Anyone with information on suspected drug dealing or victims of exploitation is asked to call Warwickshire Police on 101. Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
