Hampshire Police recover £300k of drugs
94 arrests were also made during their latest operation
Last updated 9th Dec 2024
Over £300,000 worth of drugs have been removed from the streets of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
It was part of a week-long action targeting criminal gangs from across the UK selling cocaine, crack, heroin and cannabis in our towns and cities.
9\4 arrests were made while weapons, including crossbows and blades, were seized.
Warrants, stop/searches and other intel-led activity has meant 14 so-called 14 county lines have been dismantled, with £134,600 in cash seized, along with 170 mobile phones and devices.
Chief Inspector Marcus Kennedy, Drug Related Crime and Harm Tactical Lead for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, said:
“We are not naïve to the fact that there are County Lines operating within our local communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and the challenges this brings around further tackling the exploitation of vulnerable, often young, people.
“The associated violence, which often comes part and parcel with organised County Lines, blights our communities and we are doing our utmost to successfully disrupt those main drug supply lines and bring those responsible to justice via the courts.
“We will not stand for it in our local cities, towns and villages.”
County Lines drug dealing networks often seek to criminally exploit children into becoming drugs runners for them; whether that be through emotional and physical manipulation, through to being sexually abused and forced to launder money and deal drugs.
Child exploitation isn’t just impacting young people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – but we do know that it is happening in our local communities – with professional criminals targeting the homes of vulnerable people to be used for drug-dealing – a process known as ‘cuckooing’.
Line holders will often send young vulnerable people to stay at the houses being cuckooed and distribute the drugs where it is more than likely against a backdrop of intimidation, threat and harm being imposed upon them should they not comply.
The impact of this is that young people – who use the mobile phones to order more drugs, carried by other young people or vulnerable adults, travel by train or car – become indebted to gangs and groups and subsequently forced into labour and exploitation to pay off debts.
As part of the week of action, our officers arrested 12 young people for drug-related offences – these have since been appropriately safeguarded against future threat and harm. While three other children were also safeguarded separately as part of our wider enquiries.
Chief Inspector Kennedy, continued: “This week alone we have dismantled a number of high-profile drug supply networks that have been operating in and out of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, while we have seized a huge volume of drugs which would have undoubtedly found its way onto the streets and into the hands of vulnerable users – those who we are seeking to safeguard and support through locally commissioned services.
“During this period of intensification, whilst there has been a specific focus on county line drug dealing, this will not stop us in our pursuit of those who continue to criminally exploit others – including young and vulnerable people. It doesn’t end here.
“Beyond this week, we want to send out a stark reminder to those seeking to exploit people to deal drugs for them within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight that this is a hostile place for you to be attempting to operate in and that the misery and associated violence you bring with you is not welcome on our streets.
“We will continue to hold those responsible to account for their actions and making their lives as difficult as possible. For that, I will not and I do not apologise. We will ensure justice is served.”