Police have pledged to be relentless in their pursuit of drug dealers as they revealed they have shut down 172 county lines in a week and arrested hundreds of people suspected of being involved in the illegal activity.
The seven-day focus on such crime saw forces from across the UK shut down more county lines than ever before, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said. A so-called intensification week from October 3-9 resulted in 1,360 people being arrested – and 321 weapons, more than £2.7 million worth of Class A and B drugs, and some £987,562 in cash all seized.
County lines – the term used to describe the use of mobile phones to supply drugs from large cities to towns and rural areas – involve the “line holders” who are in charge and “runners”, who are often vulnerable people, being used to deliver the drugs. Police said such a system of drug distribution leads to serious violence and exploitation.
