Raids In Harborough Villages During Crackdown On County Lines Drug Dealing

Police raided two properties in Scraptoft and Tugby as part of a national week of enforcement action targeting county lines drug dealing.

They were among 33 warrants executed across Leicestershire, which resulted in 37 arrests and 27 adults and children being safeguarded.

Pic: Leics Police

Drugs included heroin and crack cocaine, a large quantity of cash and blank firing gun were seized across the county.

County lines gangs exploit children and vulnerable adults to transport and store drugs, often using intimidation and threatening violence.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski from the Force Intelligence Bureau said: “It has been an incredibly successful week not just in terms of arrests and charges but also in the way we have worked with so many partners from community safety partnerships to education and social services, as well as drug intervention organisations such as Turning Point, to protect vulnerable people who are being exploited.

“Drugs have a very negative affect on people’s lives and blight communities by bringing crime and anti-social behaviour to their doorstep.

“There is no doubt in my mind that our enforcement action will have significantly disrupted the supply of drugs into our county towns but we are not complacent and will continue to focus on this priority area with more warrants already planned.”

Northamptonshire Police made 18 arrests, seized crack cocaine with a street value of £10,000 and other drugs.