County lines gangs targeted with weapons and drugs seized

Police targeted county lines gangs in a bid to “safeguard” vulnerable people, with drugs worth £322,000 seized.

The UK-wide networks typically operate from major cities by sending children or young people into provincial regions where they are “cuckooed” – hidden from the public eye – in the homes of vulnerable people, often drug users.

Police Scotland warned that children involved are often “groomed and coerced”, and are “snared” by organised criminals.

Between November 25 and December 1, Police Scotland officers identified and safeguarded 66 vulnerable people as part of a UK-wide crackdown co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).

They also seized weapons including an axe and two bottles of corrosives, and arrested 81 people – 60 men and 21 women – with 54 warrants executed.

More than £180,000 of heroin, £120,000 of crack cocaine and £22,000 of cocaine were seized, as well as cannabis and edibles, ketamine, synthetic opioids and mixing agents.

More than £60,000 in cash was also seized, along with a machete, four lock knives and a can of pepper spray – along with 87 mobile phones and an electric bike, an electric scooter and four vehicles.

Police visited 79 addresses – of which 25 were believed to be used by drug dealers as a cuckooing house, and officers engaged with 3,210 vulnerable people.

Children and young people who are all too often coerced, groomed and threatened by County Lines drug dealers.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn said: “Organised criminals don’t care about anyone other than themselves and they only care about power and money.

“They travel to exploit vulnerable people in our communities and their criminality is simply not welcome in Scotland and will not be tolerated.

“Protecting those vulnerable people in our communities, particularly the children and young people who are all too often coerced, groomed and threatened by county lines drug dealers remains a priority for Police Scotland officers.

“We work tirelessly in partnership with a wide range of organisations, including the members of Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, to target individuals who snare them and force them to carry out crimes on their behalf.”

Since June, six groups involved in county lines drugs and organised crime in Aberdeen have been targeted by police in a joint operation with the Met Police in London.

Evidence gathered showed class A drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin, being moved between London, Liverpool and Hertfordshire to addresses in Aberdeen, prompting 63 arrests in connection with drug offences, after 38 warrants were issued between September and November.

In London, officers from Police Scotland and the Met arrested a 34-year-old woman and two men, aged 39 and 68.

Drugs with an estimated street value of more than £207,000, and a significant sum of cash were seized.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “I welcome the very positive results achieved by Police Scotland to dismantle county lines operations which are run by ruthless criminals whose only motivation is to make money by cruelly exploiting some of the most vulnerable in society.

“Partners on Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce are fully committed to using all means at their disposal to identify and support those at risk and ensure that those responsible are held to account.”

Mr Freeburn added: “Anyone who has concerns about county lines or information about who may be involved in this insidious criminal activity should get in touch with Police Scotland or anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers.”