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Police Make More Than 100 Arrests in South West Drugs Crackdown

Police said the raids aimed to make the region hostile to organised drug dealers via disruption of county‑lines supply.

Overview

  • The week-long operation, which ran from June 22 to June 28, was the 15th phase of Operation Scorpion and pooled Dorset, Wiltshire, Avon & Somerset, Devon & Cornwall, Gloucestershire, the South West ROCU and British Transport Police.
  • For the region as a whole officers reported more than 100 arrests, the seizure of over 5kg of Class A drugs, £81,747 in cash, eight weapons and four firearms, and ongoing prosecutions in some cases.
  • Dorset executed nine warrants, made 34 arrests, seized about £6,200 and drugs including 399g of cocaine, and recovered weapons such as a crossbow, machete and imitation firearm while safeguarding five adults and six children.
  • Wiltshire forces carried out 10 drug warrants, arrested 36 people with 12 charged so far, disrupted 122 drug supply incidents and seized about 26kg of cannabis plus £47,705 in cash and multiple weapons.
  • Tactics used included licensed‑premises checks, test purchases, targeted warrants, stop‑and‑searches and transport‑hub patrols, and authorities said the campaign will continue in repeated phases to disrupt supply and protect vulnerable people.