Police make 23 arrests and seize £500,000 and weapons in county lines crackdown

Police in Cumbria made 23 arrests and seized nearly £500,000 of suspected illegal cash during a week-long intensified focus on the issue of county lines drugs crime.

Officers aiming to stop communities and people being exploited also confiscated weapons including a zombie knife, a knuckle duster and an electronic stun gun.

As well as this, preventative work took place with the aim of ensuring people – especially children - don’t get mixed up in the world of county lines in the first place.

County lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised networks involved in exporting drugs into other areas, using dedicated mobile phone lines.

Officers in Cumbria work all-year-round to tackle the threat from county lines drugs gangs and protect those potentially being exploited, with significant sentences handed out in the courts.

Throughout the week of intensification, running from November 25 to December 1, law enforcement nationally collectively stepped up its response and enhanced active investigations.

Detective Inspector Sam Johnson said: “County lines can bring misery to communities, in the form of drug dealing and serious violence.

“That is why we work to catch those involved, disrupt these networks and stop gangs making inroads in the first place to prevent people being drawn in.”

Results of the week in the south of the county included:

• A stop of a vehicle near Penrith. £150,000 of cash was found and the driver arrested on suspicion of money laundering.
• A man arrested in Barrow on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply and possession of an offensive weapon, with a knuckleduster seized.
• A search warrant executed in Kendal, with a bag seized including smoke bombs, a zombie knife, an electronic stun gun and a balaclava. One man was arrested.
• A man arrested on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm and money laundering following a stop in Barrow.

Det Insp Johnson said: “Let’s be clear: this is just a snapshot of the work our officers and staff carry out all-year-round.

“Ongoing work was intensified during this week of action - partly to make a statement to those involved in county lines so they know we will stop them.

“We will continue to pursue all drug traffickers and those who exploit people, including those using the county lines crime model.”