9th March, 2023
Operatives of the Metropolitan Police have arrested over 200 deadly drug gangs and seized drugs worth over one million pound at County Lines in London.
It was a week-long raid by the police that led to the massive crackdown on the deadly gangs.
According to the Met Police, the raid was carried out between Monday, 27 February an Sunday, 5 March.
The crackdown was focused on those running county lines in London who cause violence and anti-social behaviour in communities.
The police said in several cases, vulnerable children were preyed on by offenders and used as a commodity, placing them into an incredibly dangerous environment.
The police added that instead of criminalising these children, officers work with Rescue and Response to ensure they were safeguarded and supported.
The Met officer said the 222 arrests also led to 105 people charged with a total of 223 charges; 150 drug trafficking charges; 131 Class A and B drug charges; 177 vulnerable people safeguarded; 77 lines being closed, while officers also seized 8.3 kilograms of Class A drugs and 37.6 kilograms Class B drugs; £652,214 in cash; five firearms and 51 weapons including knives, machetes and swords.
Detective Superintendent Rick Sewart, Lead Responsible Officer for County Lines in the Met, said the County lines is intrinsically linked to homicide and serious violence and that 80 per cent of county lines offenders charged with drug trafficking this year had previously been arrested for violence.
He said the County lines networks preyed upon children and young people, trafficking them and subjecting them to modern slavery involving horrendous emotional and physical abuse, as victims were coerced through violence, blackmail and debt bondage, to hold and supply drugs.
Sewart added that those involved use weapons and serious violence, including kidnaps to intimidate and threaten victims.
He said County lines networks also preyed upon the vulnerable to fuel Class A drug addiction, which posed huge-socio economic consequences for communities; increasing anti-social behaviour and acquisitive crimes, including burglary and robbery.
Sewart explained that the Met took a multi-agency approach to tackling county lines and exploitation, working with partners to protect the vulnerable through prevention and diversion.
He said the Met is committed to relentlessly pursue those responsible for county lines drug supply, bringing them to justice for their abhorrent crimes.