Vulnerable victims pulled from the clutches of criminal gangs in British Transport Police crackdown on County Lines

British Transport Police’s County Lines Taskforce (CLTF) protected more than 30 victims, disrupted 20 County Lines, arrested 69 people, and seized just under £85k in cash during a national County Lines week of action tackling drug supply and exploitation across England, Scotland and Wales.

The Taskforce works to not only arrest offenders and get drugs off the streets but to prevent people getting drawn into criminality and safeguard those involved who are most vulnerable.

A total of 38 people were offered support after being identified as victims of exploitation by drugs gangs, who use coercion and threats to force the vulnerable to travel the length and breadth of the country via the rail network to deal drugs on their behalf.

A number of agencies including local authorities, Railway Children and Catch 22 joined the operations to offer immediate support to victims and raise awareness among station staff and the public of how to spot the signs of exploitation with the #LookCloser.

As part of the enhanced activity national County Lines Intensification Week that ran from Monday 23 June - Sunday 29 June, 48 operations were conducted across the railway network, with 38 in partnership with local police forces.

Officers were deployed at stations and on train services, as well as executing several search warrants at addresses to combat County Lines, making a total of 101 drug seizures including cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin ecstasy and ketamine; removing 25 weapons from the railway including a viable firearm, an axe, machete and hunting knife; and seizing 49 mobile phones used for drug supply.

The operations featured uniformed and plain clothes officers, dogs trained in passive drug detection and metal detection arches.

Detective Superintendent David Udomhiaye said: “Doubling down on County Lines gangs and escalating our efforts in the war against exploitation is a priority for us.

“Through our work with colleagues from other forces we pool our wealth of resources and target our operations to actively disrupt criminal activity, making a significant dent in their enterprises

“Thanks to our eagle eyed Taskforce officers we have safeguarded numerous individuals both adults and children, offering them a way out from the grip of these evil gangs.

“We’ve also removed deadly weapons from the rail network  and prevented huge hauls of drugs from entering our communities.

“Alongside this we’ve gained valuable intelligence that will ultimately lead to the demise of several County Lines.

“Our County Lines Taskforce works across the rail network every day of the year. Just because you can’t see us doesn’t mean we’re not there.

“We encourage anyone to report any signs of child exploitation or any concerns to us by discreetly texting 61016, any information can help lead to the capture of those responsible.”

Reports can be made to BTP on 0800 40 50 40, by calling 999 in an emergency and you can report any information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

 

Stand out results include:

Brighton Railway Station:

Officers identified a young girl with an older man. Both looked dishevelled and were carrying large bags. They were stopped and spoken with resulting in the man being charged with child abduction.

The girl was spoken with by a social worker and the Catch 22 outreach worker before being transported home by the County Lines Taskforce.

Colwyn Bay and Llandudno Railway Stations:

15 stop and accounts, five stop and searches, five intelligence reports, and two arrests: a 30-year-old man for Possession with intent to Supply Class A Cocaine and an 18-year-old woman for Being Concerned in the Supply of Class A.

Seized items included: Unknown quantity of Class A drugs, a drug line phone and £400 cash.

Officers visited three cuckooed addresses for welfare checks.

Guildford Railway Station:

18 stop and accounts, 26 Stop and Searches with 10 positive results, and one intelligence report on a Class A drug line.

Four young people were safeguarded, including a 16-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl who was carrying a knife.

Wellingborough – Op Eloquent:

An investigation led to the identification of four suspects.

As a result, five mobile phones, approximately 7g of crack cocaine and 10g of heroin as well as 43 wraps of crack cocaine and 43 wraps of heroin and a total of £33,000 cash were seized.

All four suspects were arrested for the Concern in the Supply of Drugs, with charges including Crack Cocaine and Heroin. Two were also charged for Possession with the Intent to Supply Crack Cocaine and Heroin, and one was also charged with Money Laundering.

Coventry Railway Station:

Man arrested after he was found to be in possession of pliers, a screwdriver, multiple bottles of stolen alcohol, perfume, and beauty products with security tags on.

He was arrested for going equipped, handling stolen goods, and being wanted for theft.

The officers also conducted three search warrants resulting in three men being arrested and11g crack cocaine, 10g herbal cannabis, and a total of £16,580 cash being seized.

Stafford Railway Station:

15 stop and accounts, 10 stop and searches, and four arrests including a wanted individual in possession of a knife and another man who ran from police. He was subsequently stopped and found in possession of a knife and 10 wraps of suspected class A.

Northampton Railway Station:

A 14 year old child was seen to enter a park and approach a group of drug users.

Two houses of interest were identified where the child was spotted. He was found in possession of around 30 to 40 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin.

A house search resulted in drug preparation material, a realistic black BB imitation gun, and approximately £100 cash in notes and change being seized.

The child has been safeguarded and a modern slavery investigation opened.

Surbiton Railway Station:

24 stop and accounts, 32 stop and searches, and one intelligence report on a drug line number.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested after he was found with an extendable baton, five bags of cannabis, seven diazepam tablets, and 13 codeine phosphate tablets.

Worthing Railway Station:

Eight stop and accounts, 12 stop and searches, and one intelligence report.

Positive searches led to the arrest of a man carrying pots of cannabis, cannabis joints, and a flick knife. A second man was arrested for being wanted by Sussex Police for stalking.

Intelligence led officers to a cuckooed address where a search resulted in approximately 50g of cannabis, sim cards, a Samsung smartphone and a firearm being seized. A woman was subsequently arrest for firearm possession.

Two other people were arrested at the address for possession of Class B and found with suspected crack cocaine in a shoe and an iPhone.

Another man was found with a small amount of crack cocaine.

All three individuals were further arrested for Concern in the Supply of Class A.

 

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