Police arrest 34 in major ‘county lines’ drugs op

DRUGS, cash, and weapons including a sword disguised as a cane were seized after a week long operation into ‘county lines’ dealing.

A total of 34 people were arrested in Cheshire, following the action which saw police target activity in areas including Macclesfield.

Officers in the county carried out 12 raids and visited up to 33 addresses where they believe vulnerable adults could have been targeted or exploited by gangs.

Around £7,000 in cash, mobile phones, knives including a sword disguised as a cane, a knuckleduster and an imitation handgun were among the haul of weapons seized as well as heroin, cocaine, cannabis and Spice, during the week of action.

‘County lines’ dealing - which national police chiefs say has become a huge problem across the country - sees gangs try to move their operation into new areas - often from big cities to nearby rural areas. Cheshire was felt to be one place at risk.

Local Policing Units worked with local councils and social services and visited schools as well as other people they felt may be vulnerable to being exploited by gangs.

Officers in Macclesfield also ran an operation with British Transport Police (BTP) to target people using cross-country trains to transfer drugs into the area.

It was all part of a nationwide week of action, from May 13-20, led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) which saw more than 500 arrests, and more than £300,000 cash and 46 weapons seized.

Cheshire Police’s Acting Assistant Chief Constable Matt Burton said: “What can often be forgotten is that there are victims at the centre of county lines.

“Vulnerable adults and children are often targeted to deliver and deal drugs on a criminal’s behalf after being criminally exploited, coerced and manipulated.”