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UK County Lines Crackdown Nets 415 Arrests and Shuts 116 Drug Lines

Police say the operation couples enforcement with safeguarding to disrupt gangs that exploit children alongside vulnerable adults.

Overview

  • In Wolverhampton, officers targeted 11 addresses, seizing around 6–7kg of Class A drugs, more than 750 MDMA tablets and about £30,000 in cash, leading to 16 arrests with 10 people charged.
  • Coventry raids on three homes uncovered a machete and about £10,000 worth of drugs alongside large sums of cash, contributing to 19 arrests during the intensification week.
  • North London warrants led to three arrests in Camden and Islington with cocaine, MDMA and £8,000 recovered, as the Met also reported £195,000 in cash seized and 116 drug lines closed.
  • Weapons recovered across the West Midlands included a firearm, five machetes, two knuckle dusters, ammunition and an imitation firearm during proactive stop searches.
  • In West Sussex, two men linked to a Crawley “Silver” line pleaded guilty following the operation, with local teams reporting 37 arrests and safeguarding for 26 children and 20 vulnerable adults.