CLASS A drugs, mobile phones and a large quantity of cash have been seized in Bromsgrove in connection with county lines drug-dealing.
A vehicle was stopped on Millfield Road on Thursday by officers from North Worcestershire County Lines Team as part of a pre-planned operation to tackle the supply of class A drugs into the town.
Two men in their 20s from Birmingham were also arrested on suspicion of class A drugs with intent to supply during the swoop which was carried out with officers from Worcestershire OPU (Operational Patrol Unit). They were later released under investigation.
PC Hopkins, from the County Lines Team, said: “County Lines’ activity involves a group from a large urban area travelling to smaller locations to sell drugs.
“They may challenge an existing group from the local area or another CL group in order to take over the local market which often causes an increase in violent incidents.”
These groups travel between urban and county locations on a regular basis to collect drugs and deliver cash.
PC Hopkins added: “County lines continues to remain a priority for us as does combatting all forms of Serious Organised Crime.
“We want to ensure the region becomes a no go area for travelling criminality and we will continue to target, pursue and prosecute those who bring drugs into our counties, commit violence and exploit vulnerable members of our communities.”
Anyone with suspicions a property is being used to sell drugs from, or that a young and/ or vulnerable individual may be getting involved with county lines drug dealing should contact their local police safer neighbourhood team (SNT), call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The operation was held as part of the ‘Protect’ campaign sees police work closely with partners to tackle serious and organised crime and the harm it causes.
The broad-ranging campaign comprises four key areas of activity:
Pursue – prosecuting and disrupting those involved in serious and organised crime
Prevent – stopping individuals from becoming involved in serious and organised crime
Protect – increased levels of protection against serious and organised crime
Prepare – reducing the impact of serious and organised crime where it occurs
Visit westmercia.police.uk/protect to find out more and follow #Protect on social media.
