More than a million pounds worth of drugs and 100 suspected dealers have been arrested across the Isle of Wight and Hampshire over the last 18 months.
Hampshire Constabulary says it has also seized 82 mobile phones almost £53,000 in cash, alongside weapons and a firearm, as part of its County Lines programme.
The 'proactive operation' involved its Neighbourhoods teams, drug and high harm teams, proactive roads policing, firearms, dogs, crime investigation detectives and officers from the county lines specialist team Op Monument.
Detective Superintendent, Nick Plummer, Head of Serious Organised Crime, said:
“Operations like this, which target the criminal exploitation of vulnerable people, are vital because we know that this type of criminality drives a high proportion of violent crime in our communities.
“During these weeks of intensification we have identified vulnerable people, most of whom were victims of this type of exploitation, who we are now safeguarding and working with them to give support they need.
"If you are concerned or worried about a young or vulnerable person please contact your local safeguarding partnership website to seek help.”
The operation also involved joint work with British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and Royal Mail. This intensification period yielded the following results:
- 100 arrests
- 24 vulnerable people identified
- 9 vulnerable juveniles engaged
- Cash seized £52,703.50
- 81.5 grams of crack cocaine and 91 wraps seized
- 62g of heroin and 92 wraps seized
- 9 weapons – machetes, knives, CS gas, air rifle, BB gun recovered
- 1 DDTRO – drug dealing telecommunications restriction order requiring the disconnection of a communication device, phone number or something else used with a communication device which is being used in connection with drug dealing offences.
- 10 school county line education visits
- 7 taxi firm engagements
All those arrested were questioned on suspicion of offences, including suppling drugs, possession of firearms and criminal property.
The intensification activity saw 17 drug networks disrupted, with police targeting individuals who ran either local or county lines, supplying crack cocaine and heroin.
Overall a total of 88 men and 12 women were arrested with; 13 of these were aged under 18. Most offences were for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, with a few under modern day slavery legislation.
Through Op Monument work alone, in the last 12 months has seen nine convictions and 25 county lines dismantled. The team has also identified 69 young people identified at risk of exploitation / grooming as a result of contact with a county drug line.
Many more are still progressing through the courts.
Anyone with information on drugs can contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, 0800 or online https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
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