Leicestershire Police arrest 42, seize 'homemade taser' and other weapons in County Lines crackdown
The force also seized over ÂŁ24,000 in cash as part of the week-long action
Leicestershire Police have seized cash, drugs and weapons - including a 'homemade taser' - in a week-long crackdown on County Lines gangs.
Between Monday 4th and Sunday 10th March, the force made 42 arrests, which included mapped County Lines members.
Through activities including warrants, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Operations and priority patrols in hotspot areas, Leicestershire Police in total:
- Mapped new County Lines
- Made 42 arrests which included County Lines members
- Executed 40 warrants
- Led two ANPR Operations, leading to six arrests and busting supplies of class A and B drugs
- Recovered significant weapons, including a homemade taser
- Seized over ÂŁ24,000 and 120 euros in cash
- Seized drugs including ÂŁ6,000 worth of crack cocaine and 437 cannabis plants
- Seized designer clothing over ÂŁ10,000
- Carried out 25 safeguarding visits
The action was taken during County Lines Intensification Week - a national campaign to target and disrupt County Lines drug dealing and raise awareness of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE).
Detective Chief Inspector Dan Granger, who oversaw the week of activity, said: “Leicestershire Police, alongside our partners, have collaboratively worked to achieve these results, utilising national surge funding to support the operation.
“Alongside prevent and pursue activity, protecting those who are vulnerable is vitally important which is why safeguarding visits take place and warrants are carried out in properties that cause most harm in neighbourhoods and communities.
“These impressive results are the culmination of fantastic work to disrupt the movement of drugs, remove dangerous weaponry from the streets of LLR and provide education to raise awareness of County Lines criminality.”
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews said: “The proactive work that has taken place this week is just a snapshot of the relentless, coordinated efforts being undertaken by officers and partners every day of the year to eradicate our communities of the misery brought by drugs.
“Drug crime remains a top priority in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. With every arrest and every seizure, we weaken the criminal operations that manipulate and exploit vulnerable people, destroy lives and heighten the violence on our streets – and we must not stop.
“I am pleased with the work underway in custody to give people misusing drugs the help they need to recover. Ultimately, this will help reduce demand and break the cycle of offending fuelled by addiction in the future.”