Millions of pounds worth of cannabis seized in British Transport Police County Lines operation

A huge haul of cannabis worth £6.1 million was recovered as part of a two-day County Lines taskforce operation held in Manchester last week.

 

Officers targeted key stations across Manchester on Monday and Tuesday last week while intelligence led to a search where a quarter of a ton of cannabis was retrieved from a Manchester address.

Craig Tomlinson, aged 50, of Duchess Court, Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, was charged with being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs (Cannabis) and appeared before Carlisle Magistrates on Thursday.

He was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Manchester Crown Court on 12 December.

Xiaowu CHEN, aged 56, of Stadium Drive, Manchester was also charged with being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs (Cannabis) and appeared at Salford Magistrates Court on Thursday and remanded in custody until his next appearance on 12 December at Manchester Crown Court.

A 17-year-old from the West Mercia area was also charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and possession of criminal property.

 

The multi agency operation dubbed Op Blume was led by British Transport Police specialist County Lines taskforce supported by GMP and City of London Police dog section.

Other partners included the National Crime Agency, immigration services and safeguarding partners, social workers and drug and alcohol workers.

The taskforce deployed officers from BTP’s dog section, Neighbourhood Policing Team, and Operational Support Unit while plain clothed officers and knife arches were also integral to the operation.

 

Nine people were arrested, 45 stop searches were conducted over the two days and three addresses were searched in Manchester, Rochdale and West Mercia.

 

A knife and £30k in cash were also seized while two children were identified and referred to safeguarding services after officers made vital interventions on the rail network.

One adult was also safeguarded at a cuckooed address in the Manchester area.

 

Det. Supt Craig Payne from BTP’s County Lines Taskforce said: “This was a hugely successful operation which once again demonstrates the effectiveness of our specialist County Lines taskforce is dismantling and disrupting criminal networks and protecting young and vulnerable people from harm.

 

“Our dedicated team works across the whole rail network every day tackling this exploitative activity and is pivotal in intercepting the supply of drugs and making safeguarding interventions to protect vulnerable people from ruthless gangs.”

 

County Lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas within the UK, using dedicated. mobile phone lines or other form of ‘deal line’.

 

The networks and the criminal enterprises they run devastate communities and are linked to violence, weapons and gangs.             

 

Children, young people and the vulnerable are commonly targeted, exploiting them into trafficking drugs, money, and weapons. These victims then become trapped in a cycle of fear with gangs often using promises of wealth and gifts to draw vulnerable people in,  then use violence or threats to control and manipulate them.

 

 BTP’s bespoke child exploitation team works with a broad range of partners who, collectively, adopt a prevention focused, child centred approach to identifying and immediately safeguarding those at risk.

 

Det. Supt Craig Payne added: “Robust operations like this take place across the rail network every day to disrupt County Lines. Sometimes you’ll spot us, sometimes you won’t.

 

“Our mission remains to dismantle and disrupt criminal enterprises and to identify and safeguard those who are being exploited and relentlessly pursue those who have targeted them.

 

“We will not waver in our determination to stop the exploitation and associated harm caused by county lines gangs, making our communities and railways safer.

 

“We urge anyone using the rail network to report any concerns to us through our discreet text number 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 and to be aware that victims of exploitation may not always be obvious nor aware they are indeed victims.”