Cash, drugs and weapons seized in police raids

Drugs worth more than £400,000 have been seized in the West as part of a week dedicated to tackling crimes linked to county lines activity.

Operation Scorpion saw Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Devon & Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Police work together to tackle gangs who use young people to traffic drugs into the region from major cities.

Wiltshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Liz Coles said the "abhorrent" crimes devastate rural communities and cause "long-lasting harm".

The forces said Operation Scorpion saw 92 people arrested, £54,915 of cash seized and more than £446,000 worth of drugs found.

A haul of 29 weapons, including a knuckleduster, was also confiscated.

In Wiltshire specifically, 26 people were arrested and £380,000 worth of drugs seized. Meanwhile in Gloucestershire, two people were arrested and £37,000 worth of cocaine seized.

In Bristol and Somerset, specific drug raids were carried out and work is under way with local schools to raise awareness of the risks of being involved in distributing drugs.

Coles continued: "Criminal gangs that are involved in county lines activity often adapt their strategies to exploit young people and vulnerable individuals.

"We see some of those local lines being led by more upstream county lines, but it is vital we understand the way county lines are using vulnerable children within Wiltshire. They can also force them to transport drugs and money across our county and other counties."

Policing Minister Sarah Jones also joined officers on a raid in Trowbridge on 4 March to see firsthand how Wiltshire Police is tackling the issue of drug gangs.

There, a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Jones said many people "tend to think of these things in urban areas" but lines run "across the whole country" causing harm.

Elsewhere, police officers visited hotels in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Somerset to engage with hotel staff and encourage them to spot the signs of child sexual exploitation.

Avon and Somerset Police, which is holding sessions with schools and parents to outline the signs of potential exploitation, has listed things for people to look out for.

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