Devon police raids end with drugs' arrests

50 officers involved in 'county lines' operation

Fourteen men have been arrested and large amounts of class A and B drugs and cash seized following raids at seven addresses by 50 Devon and Cornwall police officers.

The operation, part of a crackdown on 'county lines' drugs supply into the south west took place simultaneously in Plymouth, Merseyside and Morecombe. The warrants formed part of a wider investigation into links between those areas and Torquay too.

This week's arrests build on others since April last year during which firearms, cash and class A drugs were recovered This week's arrests were: 

All but one arrest this week were of people in the north of England with the exception of a 41-year-old man from Plymouth, arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. 

Detective Inspector Mark Drew, from Merseyside Police, said: “Working closely with Lancashire Police and Devon & Cornwall Police, we have seen a significant amount of arrests and seizures including suspected class A drugs, cash and cannabis as a result of the morning’s activity.

“County Lines is when criminal gangs from big cities across the UK use violence and intimidation to expand their drug network within their region, and into suburban areas, such as market and coastal towns across the country. This can often involve exploiting young people and vulnerable adults to move, sell and store the drugs.

“Information from the public is also a vital part in identifying these individuals and putting them before the courts, and we cannot do this without the assistance of our communities.

“If you have information on the supply of drugs or use or storage of weapons, please get in touch so we can take action. I would also like to encourage people to become familiar with the signs that someone may be being exploited and report this to us, so that we can offer them help and protection when they may not be able to see a way out.”

Anyone with any information on the storage of weapons or use of drugs, is asked to ring 101 or email at 101@dc.police.uk. 

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.