Cash, drugs and weapons seized as 95 arrested in East Midlands County Lines crackdown

Ninety five arrests have been made in the East Midlands as part of a national operation cracking down on County Lines gangs.

Officers from the five regional police forces also seized more than £120,000, almost £35,000 pounds worth of Class A and B drugs, two handguns, more than 55 bladed weapons and 30 mobile phones.

Five vehicles, designer clothes and high-value jewellery was also seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

County Lines is a form of drug dealing in which organised gangs move drugs across the country using violence and intimidation to turn young and vulnerable people into couriers.

Nationally forces have this week made 1,100 arrests and 1,138 vulnerable people engaged with. More than 220 weapons, including 27 firearms and 170 knives have also been seized.

EMSOU’s Regional Vulnerabilities Coordinator Stuart Jones said: “These weeks of action offer a snapshot into the work we do around the clock, all year long, with our partners to protect vulnerable people - in particular children - against the harmful influence of County Lines gangs."

“Along with the operational focus, the week saw us, once again, run the #LookCloser campaign. Launched in the East Midlands in 2020 as a joint venture between EMSOU, The Children’s Society and BTP and has since been rolled out nationally, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the signs that a young person is being exploited, as well as urge the public, and key partners and business, to look closer at the young people in their lives. Protecting children is a job for everyone."

• county lines
• drugs
• East Midlands
• nottinghamshire
• derbyshire
• Leicestershire