Twenty eight arrests in crackdown on County Lines drugs crime
Twenty-eight people have been arrested in a week of a targeted crackdown by police on County Lines drug activity across Staffordshire.
Officers arrested 25 men and three women over drugs offences, with the force also safeguarding 14 people.
Around 3,000 cannabis plants were seized, alongside £5,000 of heroin and crack cocaine, £3,000 in cash and a series of weapons.
Five arrests were of people involved in a Birmingham-to-Stafford drugs line were made at an address in Coton Fields in Stafford.
Three arrests were also made for suspected involvement in a drugs line between Wolverhampton and Burton, police chiefs said.
Staffordshire Police worked with the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit on the operation from February 1-7.
County Lines activity is where groups of criminals from an urban area move into smaller towns to distribute crack cocaine or heroin.
The groups use vulnerable young people, often aged 14 to 24, to traffic the drugs after deals are agreed remotely through a mobile or "line".
Detective chief inspector John Miles, of Staffordshire Police, said: “This has been a successful week and another intensive week of activity focusing on protecting the vulnerable in our communities and dealing with offenders.
"We’re working hard to tackle this challenge by disrupting those who would deal drugs in our communities. It has been a busy week and the highest number of arrests we have made in one of these periods, but the work continues.
"We will continue to arrest and charge those dealing drugs but look to safeguard the young and vulnerable who may be pressured into this type of activity."
