Cambridgeshire county lines crackdown seizes drugs and weapons

33 were charged with 93 drug and human trafficking offences

A crackdown on county lines drug dealing has led to 60 arrests and 33 people being charged.

Police said they wanted to prevent dealers from exploiting young and vulnerable people and human trafficking across Cambridgeshire.

Drugs, cash and weapons including zombie knives and machetes were seized during raids over recent weeks.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Constabulary said 51 county lines were dismantled as part of the crackdown.

Crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin and cannabis were seized along with "significant" amounts of cash and weapons.

The operation was the biggest of its kind in the county

Operation Hypernova 2 was supported by the Metropolitan Police's Orochi Team, the Eastern Regional Specialist Operation Unit (ERSOU), and British Transport Police.

The operation was the biggest of its kind in the county.

Officers carried out more than 30 raids across Cambridge

Det Insp Andrew Gaunt-Warner said the operation brought together months of intelligence work to "leave a message to those exploiting the most vulnerable people in our communities, that their actions will not be tolerated if they come to Cambridgeshire".

"It saw teams of officers going through doors at dawn to ensure we capitalised on the early evidence, capturing the drugs, phones, money and assets we need to ensure these people are put behind bars for a lengthy period of time," he added.

"It has resulted in us... safeguarding people and reducing the impact of knife crime and serious street-based violence.

"County lines dealers and organised crime groups use drugs as a vehicle to go about their business enterprise but what it really is, is the exploitation of children and vulnerable people in our communities."

Officers carried out more than 30 raids across Cambridge, Peterborough, Yaxley, Great Paxton, Burwell and Little Wilbraham as well as over the county's borders.

Other areas included Bedford, Dunstable, Luton, Northampton, Crowland, Leicester, Sheffield, Rotherham, Sheffield, Teesside, Coventry and London.