Warwickshire drug dealers out of pocket

Drug dealers in Warwickshire are going to be out of pocket after officers across the force took part in a week of activity targeting their criminal activity.

County Lines Intensification Week is a national operation that ran from 25 November to 1 December.

The week of action saw 19 people arrested for drug offences and the seizure of more than 170 wraps of class A drugs, 150 cannabis plants, £17k in cash and three knives.

We also used the week to visit vulnerable people who have previously been targeted by county lines drug's gangs.

Equally importantly, our officers submitted 178 intelligence logs that will help us carry out further enforcement activity.

Successes during the week included a cannabis farm uncovered in Leamington and a man arrested a part of an investigation into a sweet shop suspected of being a front for the sale of drugs.

Officers from Stratford Safer Neighbourhood Team also raided a flat in the Guildhall area of the town in response to community concerns around the supply of drugs.

Detective Inspector Pete Sherwood from our Serious and Organised Crime Team said: “It’s fairly safe to say that drug dealers in Warwickshire will be significantly out of pocket this Christmas. Bad news for them, great news for residents in the county.

“Despite what some people think, the production and supply of drugs is not a victimless crime. Far from it, it leads to the exploitation of some of the most vulnerable people in society and fuels violent crime and other types of offending such as shoplifting and burglary.

“So much of the work carried out during the week was as a result of information provided by the public. This is vital in helping us tackle drug crime and exploitation in the county. Thanks for all your support and please keep the information coming.”

For more details on the signs of exploitation and how to report concerns go to - County lines | Warwickshire Police