A major operation targeting county lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation across the South West has resulted in numerous arrests and significant drug seizures.
Operation Scorpion, a collaborative effort between five regional police forces, concluded its tenth iteration last week (November 25th - December 1st), coinciding with the national County Lines Intensification Week.
The week-long operation saw 95 arrests, the seizure of £47,863 in cash, 37kg of cannabis, 564 cannabis plants, and 3.7kg of cocaine.
Crucially, 107 individuals, including 32 children, were safeguarded.
The operation placed a particular emphasis on child criminal exploitation (CCE), where gangs groom and coerce young people into participating in drug trafficking and money laundering. Alongside enforcement activities, including raids resulting in substantial cash and drug seizures, officers engaged in community outreach programs. This included school talks and educational stalls aimed at raising awareness of CCE and identifying vulnerable individuals.
Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Catherine Roper, speaking on behalf of the participating forces, highlighted the operation's success in disrupting drug networks and safeguarding vulnerable individuals. She emphasised the ongoing threat posed by county lines and the forces' commitment to tackling this complex issue.
Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, echoed these sentiments, urging parents to engage in open conversations with their children about county lines and the risks of child criminal exploitation. He also highlighted resources available to educate young people and parents on the warning signs of CCE.
Operation Scorpion demonstrates a regional commitment to tackling drug-related crime and protecting vulnerable members of the community. The collaboration between police forces, Police and Crime Commissioners, British Transport Police, and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit underscores the scale and seriousness of the challenge and the determination to combat it.
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