22 arrests following two-day County Lines operation – South Wales

Last week, a two-day operation took place across south Wales, to identify any passengers travelling who might have been involved in County Lines drug dealing.

Officers were deployed to Bridgend, Swansea, and Pontypridd railway stations on Wednesday 18 and Tuesday 19 December to detect and disrupt criminal activity, and safeguard those being exploited. The multi-agency joint operation dubbed Operation Blume featured British Transport Police’s (BTP) specialist County Lines taskforce and South Wales Police.

The operation resulted in 22 arrests and 51 stop and searches. Nine people have since been charged with offences including Possession with Intent to Supply Class A drugs and Possession of an offensive weapon.

BTP has a zero tolerance stance against those profiteering from the exploitation of children and the vulnerable.

As well as the criminal interventions, 54 children were engaged with and a range of prevention, help and protection has been offered as a result by multi-agency partners, including youth justice, youth social work and drugs and alcohol services. 

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 England, Scotland and Wales, using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of ‘deal line’.

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 from BTP’s County Lines Taskforce said: “Our dedicated team works across the whole rail network every day tackling this exploitative activity, and the team pivotal in intercepting the supply of drugs and making safeguarding interventions to protect vulnerable people from ruthless gangs.

“Operations like this take place across the rail network every day to disrupt County Lines. Sometimes you’ll spot us, sometimes you won’t.

“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.”

Chief Inspector Dean Taylor of South Wales Police said: “The was a very successful operation which dealt with those vulnerable people in our communities and tackled people involved in County Lines.

“South Wales Police has a zero-tolerance approach to drug dealing and this operation is just one example of how we are tackling drug dealing in the community.

“We can, and regularly do, act upon the information provided to us by the public, so please keep it coming.

“Anyone with suspicions or information about illegal drug supply is urged to contact us.”

Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister of Wales, also attended the operation at Bridgend Railway Station. The Member of the Senedd for Ogmore said: “Exploiting vulnerable children is completely unacceptable and attending Operation Blume today has shown me the hard work being carried out by the British Transport Police and South Wales Police to ensure these criminal gangs are disrupted and dismantled.”

“Not only has this operation helped make the railway a safer place, it also helps make the wider community around this station and beyond safer.”