West Midlands Police seizes cash and drugs during County Lines Week
The force has finished a week of high-intensity work
Last updated 15th Apr 2024
West Midlands Police has finished a week of high-intensity work tackling County Lines drug dealing.
County Lines Intensification Week has seen some excellent work by teams across our LPAs, with arrests, warrants and engagement taking place all week.
Across the week, more than £70,000 in cash, 32 knives, some knuckledusters and machetes have all been seized, with 65 arrests across the WMP area.
In Birmingham, officers worked alongside colleagues from West Mercia in a pair of warrants.
The warrants, in Gorleston Road and Wakeford Road.
Two men were arrested and a quantity of cash, drugs and weapons were seized.
In Coventry, more than 400 cannabis plants were seized in warrants across the city.
Officers from the organised crime and gangs teams carried out raids at properties in Hastings Road, Monks Road, Dean Street, Swan Lane and Brooklyn Road.
The most plants were found in Hastings Road - with more than 200 seized - and a 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of cultivating drugs.
More early morning warrants were carried out in Wolverhampton, with four men arrested after suspected Class A drugs were seized from an address in the city.
Also in Wolverhampton, the CIRV team and Wolverhampton Exploitation Hub visited Bilston Bus Station to engage with young people returning from school and college around the risks of exploitation.
They also discussed County Lines and the offer from CIRV to help potentially exploited young people move away from that life.
40 people were spoken to at the bus station, before the team moved into town to talk to more young people at businesses nearby.
In Walsall, two men were arrested and a large amount of crack cocaine was seized during warrants in Kinnerley Street.
Force lead for County Lines week, Inspector Simon Graham, said: "The number of arrests made last week is a testament to the hard work of all our officers across many teams and partner organisations.
“We have removed a significant quantity of drugs off our streets as well as dangerous weapons.
“Alongside enforcement action, we have visited schools, colleges, community venues and high streets to educate people about the seriousness of county lines and how to spot the signs of exploitation.
“Just because last week was a national week of intensified action against county lines, doesn’t mean we don’t do this type of activity every day.
“We have a dedicated County Lines Taskforce that aims to take down drug networks and protect young and vulnerable people.
“We are committed to prosecuting those who bring drugs into our communities and making our streets safer.
“If you are worried a child or a vulnerable adult is being exploited by dealers or if you think a property us being used by a drugs gang then I urge you to tell us.”
County Lines drug dealing often involves criminal gangs exploiting young and vulnerable people, making them move drugs, sell them or watch over drug factories.
This kind of exploitation ruins lives, both for the young people exploited and the communities affected by this kind of activity.
If you're worried someone you care about is being exploited to sell drugs, find support and advice here
National County Lines week saw more than 1,800 arrests and 245 county lines closed down.
Police forces across the country have arrested 1,874 suspected criminals, seized 660 weapons and eight XL bully dogs during the seven day intensification campaign.
More than £2.5 million worth of Class A and Class B drugs were seized, including 6.2kg of crack cocaine, 8.8kg of heroin, 30kg of cocaine and 13,000 cannabis plants.
£1.8 million in cash was seized with 1,653 people safeguarded.