Police have arrested nearly 2,000 individuals in a recent week-long nationwide crackdown targeting county lines drug networks, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). The operation, conducted between June 23 and 29, resulted in the closure of 241 county lines, the seizure of approximately 178kg of class A drugs, over 500 weapons, and nearly £2.4 million in cash. This enforcement action marks one of the significant efforts in the ongoing campaign against drug trafficking networks operating across the UK.

London, in particular, saw intense police activity, with the Metropolitan Police arresting 301 people, 111 of whom have already been charged. The Met also shut down more than 100 drug lines, seizing nearly 70kg of class A substances and a vast array of weapons, including firearms and unusual items such as samurai swords and Zombie knives. One arrest on the Isle of Dogs unearthed a suspect in possession of luxury goods, sports cars, and over £5,000 in unexplained cash, illustrating the scale and sophistication of these criminal networks.

County lines operations typically involve urban gangs using dedicated phone lines to distribute drugs like crack cocaine and heroin to other counties. A particularly disturbing aspect of these networks is their exploitation of vulnerable individuals, including children and those with mental health or addiction problems, both as drug couriers and by turning their homes into bases for dealing. The Metropolitan Police safeguarded 260 vulnerable or young people during the crackdown, part of a wider total of 1,179 across England aimed at preventing further recruitment into organised crime.

This operation echoes previous crackdowns, which have painted a similar picture of county lines as a growing national issue requiring coordinated law enforcement responses. For instance, a December 2024 operation arrested 1,660 people, closed 261 county lines, and safeguarded around 1,400 vulnerable individuals, many of them children, while seizing over 500 weapons and significant quantities of drugs. Authorities have increasingly stressed a prevention-first approach, recognising the importance of protecting vulnerable communities while dismantling these dangerous networks.

Moreover, the involvement of children in these gangs remains a critical concern, compounded by the emergence of synthetic opioids within the UK drug market. The NPCC has repeatedly highlighted the need to tackle both the supply chains and the underlying social vulnerabilities exploited by county lines gangs. Past operations have also uncovered the diversity of weapons used by these groups—ranging from firearms to bladed weapons—and the vast sums of cash generated from drug trafficking.

The Metropolitan Police's Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell reinforced this view, stating that disrupting county lines is essential not only for safeguarding society’s most vulnerable members but also as a crucial part of tackling broader violent crime. Dedicated forces continue to work closely across the country to apprehend those responsible, reflecting a sustained national commitment to addressing this deeply entrenched problem.

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Source: Noah Wire Services