Police Scotland officers safeguard 66 people being exploited by County Lines gangs in one week
Police Scotland officers safeguarded 66 people being exploited by drug dealers from County Lines groups last week.
Between Monday, November 25 and Sunday, December 1, officers across the country identified and safeguarded a number of vulnerable people.
Inverness is grappling with the grim reality of County Lines drug operations, with 10 separate gangs exploiting vulnerable individuals in the city.
During the UK-wide initiative – co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) engaged with a further 3210 people. They visited 79 addresses – 25 were believed to be used by drug dealers as a cuckooing house.
Illegal drugs, cash and offensive weapons were also recovered.
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn said: “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.”
County Lines drug dealers from larger cities expand their criminal activity into smaller communities to exploit young and vulnerable people to sell drugs, carry cash and weapons – bringing violence, coercion and abuse. They can also take over a vulnerable person’s house – known as cuckooing.
The joint investigation also saw warrants being executed in London where officers from Police Scotland’s North East Division and The Metropolitan Police 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.
Speaking about activity during the County Lines intensification week, Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn said: “The positive results during the intensification week are an example of our continuing work in support of national initiatives aimed at frustrating and disrupting the activities of those who involved in County Lines drugs dealing.
“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.”
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.”
Throughout the intensification week 81 people – 60 men and 21 women were arrested and 54 evidential search warrants were executed.
More than £180,000 of heroin, £120,000 of crack cocaine and £22,000 of cocaine were seized. Quantities of cannabis, herbal cannabis and cannabis edibles were also recovered as well as synthetic opioids, ketamine and mixing agents were discovered and more than £60,000 in cash.
Offensive weapons including a machete, an axe, four lock knives, two bottles of corrosive substance and a can of pepper spray were seized. An electric bike, an electric scooter, four vehicles and 87 mobile phones were also seized.
Assistant Chief Constable Freeburn concluded: “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."
