Police arrest 37 in major drug crackdown

Police forces combined efforts over a week to seize drugs and shut down county lines

Thirty-seven people have been arrested across the West of England in a major operation targeting drug supply networks.

Police from Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire seized £35,700 in cash, as well as drugs including heroin, cannabis and cocaine.

Officers were carrying out a regional week of action from 23 to 29 June as part of Operation Scorpion.

Wiltshire's police and crime commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, said: "Criminals rely on gaps in awareness and accountability, and we are working to close those gaps across the region."

Wiltshire Police seized 1.3kg of cannabis found stuffed in carrier bags

The three police forces also teamed up with Devon and Cornwall Police and Dorset Police, and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).

In total across the five regions, police arrested 102 people and seized 66kg of cocaine, 14kg of cannabis and £119,000 in cash.

Seventeen vehicles were also seized, including six e-bikes.

And officers shut down 29 suspected county lines – mobile phone lines used to take orders of drugs.

During this latest stage of Operation Scorpion, policing teams targeted those who exploit children and vulnerable people to supply and store drugs.

Ch Con Andy Hill of SWROCU said it was a "stark reality" that the average age of someone controlling a drugs line is 21, and the average age of a drug runner is just 15 to 17.

One of the six e-bikes that were seized in the crackdown

In Wiltshire, 25 people were arrested including eight drug line holders, who were charged and remanded in custody.

Officers disrupted and removed 14 drug lines from operation, in addition to seizing 15 offensive weapons including a firearm, a stun gun disguised as a torch, knives and machetes.

The force also seized 1.3kg of cannabis found in carrier bags and 107 MDMA pills.

Det Ch Insp Charlotte Tucker, of Wiltshire Police, said: "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."

Avon and Somerset Police engaged with approximately 1,000 taxi drivers to educate them on spotting the signs of county lines and child exploitation

Avon and Somerset Police engaged with industries that may be unknowingly helping drug supply networks.

They spoke to staff at hotels, private hire companies and postal services to raise awareness of the signs of exploitation and encourage staff to report any suspicions or concerns.

Officers also spoke to around 1,000 taxi drivers.

Gloucestershire Police, meanwhile, visited homes where concerns had been raised about potential cuckooing – where a drug dealer takes over a vulnerable person's address and uses it as a base to commit crime.

Eight people were safeguarded as a result, and officers worked with partner agencies to put measures in place to ensure a long-term plan for their support.

'United approach'

The force's police and crime commissioner, Chris Nelson, said: "Combining the resources of all of the region's forces demonstrates a united approach to policing in an attempt to reduce the serious harm and violence caused by drugs.

"By recognising the signs and behaviour to look out for, we can all play our part in smashing these gangs and send a clear message that this region will not tolerate this harmful criminal activity."