North Yorkshire Police arrest 17 in connection with county lines drug dealing

17 people have been arrested and almost £5000 was seized in the latest county lines intensification week

Author: Natalie HigginsPublished 18th Mar 2022

There has been another crack down on county lines drug dealing in York and North Yorkshire.

In the latest week of intensification, which rach from 7 March to 13 March, 17 people were arrested in connection to illegal drug activity and nearly £5000 was seized by North Yorkshire Police.

The week of action is led by the National Crime Agency, with police forces across the country working together on a joint initiative to tackle drug dealers and safeguard vulnerable people who are exploited by crime gangs.

County lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal groups (OCGs) move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.

Teams have executed warrants at addresses that are linked to drugs and carried out several safeguarding visits to help prevent ‘cuckooing’ taking place – this is when County Lines drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person for a short time while they carry out their deals before returning to their town or city.

North Yorkshire Police say this week of hard-hitting action produced positive results for the force.

A golf ball sized amount of suspected class-A drugs and 21 wraps of suspected drugs were seized as well as almost £5000 in cash.

York

Officers received intelligence that a woman in her 50s from York was transporting runners in her vehicle. The vehicle was sighted and stopped by the firearms unit where after being searched she was found with six wraps of what is believed to be crack cocaine concealed in her bra.

All three occupants of the car were arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs. The woman in her 50s was released under investigation and the other two occupants in the vehicle were released with no further action.

A vulnerable person check was conducted on an address in York. Once at the address police found a wrap described as “the size a golf ball” which contained what is believed to be a Class A drug. An 18-year-old man from the West Yorkshire area and a 48-year-old woman from York were arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs.

A section 23 drugs warrant was conducted at an address in York. Intelligence suggested that vulnerable young people were staying at the address, and it was involved in the supply of drugs. Officers attended the address, a single occupant was present. A search of the address produced suspected stolen property and a woman voluntarily attended a local police station to assist officers with their enquires.

Our reporter attended this raid in York. Watch below:

Harrogate

A vehicle of interest to police was sighted heading for Harrogate from West Yorkshire. The vehicle was stopped by police and the driver was searched. The driver was found to have 16 wraps of what is believed to be a class-A drug, three mobile phones and £350 in cash. The driver, a 30-year-old man from West Yorkshire, was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a class A-drug. Following questioning, the man was later released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Scarborough

The first warrant executed by police in Scarborough resulted in the recovery of suspected cannabis, drug dealing equipment, cash and mobile phones. A 45-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis. The man was also arrested for possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. Following questioning, they were later released under investigation while enquiries continue.

At the second warrant at another address there was nobody present when they forced the door open, but a search of the property resulted in the seizure of a suspected Class A drug believed to be a type of heroin. Enquiries are ongoing in the effort to make arrests in connection with suspected drug-dealing activity in the area.

Police in Scarborough also arrested four people on suspicion of Class A drug offences following an early morning vehicle stop. A white Audi car was pulled over on Burniston Road. Following a search of the vehicle, suspected drugs and cash were seized. The driver, a 39-year-old local man, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply. The passengers, a 29-year-old man, a 25-year-old woman and an 18-year-old woman, were arrested on suspicion of possessing a Class A drug.

Transport network

Vulnerable children and adults often use the transport networks to travel so North Yorkshire Police worked alongside partners in British Transport Police (BTP) and the transport networks to increase awareness around this issue.

A dedicated operation was set up at York train station to disrupt criminals who were travelling to York with offensive or dangerous weapons.

How to get help or make a report

If you are in danger, always call the police on 999.

If you are concerned that a friend or a young person you care for is being exploited or is involved in drug dealing, please call the police on 101.

If you don’t want to speak to the police, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Or report information to Crimestoppers online anonymously

Visit the Fearless website – it provides advice and information for young people.

For information about drugs visit the FRANK website

If you are concerned about a child or young person, you can also contact the NSPCC:

Call the helpline 0808 800 5000

Report a concern online

Email Help@nspcc.org

If you are under 18, contact Childline on 0800 1111

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