Two dozen arrests and drugs seized in week of County Lines action

A total of 25 people were arrested and more than £33,000 in cash was seized in Wiltshire as part of a regional week of action targeting drug supply networks across the area.

The latest week of intensification as part of the Operation Scorpion initiative involved a range of enforcement action carried out across the region, as well as education and prevention work taking place.

Wiltshire Police, Avon & Somerset Police, Devon & Cornwall Police, Dorset Police, and Gloucestershire Constabulary teamed up with the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) to harness their collective capabilities in disrupting the supply of illegal drugs in the region. The operation also coincided with the national County Lines Intensification Week (CLIW).

In Wiltshire:

• 25 people were arrested, including eight drug line holders who were charged and remanded
• £33,531 cash was seized
• 1.3kg of cannabis, 0.95kg cocaine, 143g crack, 160g heroin, 125g ketamine, 316 Valium pills and 107 MDMA pills were seized
• A Surron bike, 3 e-bikes and 3 motorcross bikes were seized
• 14 drug lines were disrupted and seized, removing them from operation
• 10 people were safeguarded
• 1 firearm seized, a Torch Taser, plus 13 other weapons including knives and machetes

In total across the region, 102 people were arrested, 65kg of cocaine, 13kg of cannabis and £119,326 cash were seized, and an estimated 29 county lines shut down. Full results can be found below.

Research shows that across the region more local children and vulnerable people in our communities are being exploited to supply and store drugs.

During this latest operation, forces had a focus around those who exploit children, enable drug dealers to operate in our communities or look the other way.

Work was also carried out with young people and schools to educate them around the risks associated with illegal vapes. Not only do they pose serious health risks, it is believed criminals are recruiting young people to sell these illegal products, opening them up to potential further exploitation.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: “Operation Scorpion continues to show the strength of regional collaboration in tackling the harm caused by drug crime – this time focusing on the professional enablers and businesses that may knowingly or unknowingly turn a blind eye to county lines activity and child exploitation. Criminals rely on gaps in awareness and accountability, and we are working to close those gaps across the region.

“My message is clear – safeguarding our young people is everyone’s responsibility. Businesses and professionals have a duty to recognise and report signs of exploitation. We will not tolerate any environment where organised criminal networks are allowed to operate.

“My office, alongside Wiltshire Police, will continue to work with local authorities, schools, and community partners to raise awareness and empower people to act. Through campaigns like Spot the Signs, Stop the Crime, we’re helping more people understand the red flags of exploitation and take meaningful steps to stop it.

“For young people, parents, and professionals seeking guidance, the Check it Out youth zone on my website remains a key resource to learn more about the risks of county lines and how to get support.”

Detective Chief Inspector Charlotte Tucker, of Wiltshire Police, said: “By working together across the region, it gives us the best opportunity to tackle suspected criminal networks who are operating across our Force areas and exploiting vulnerable people, particularly young children.

“As well as robust enforcement activity, we also recognise the need to target those sectors where these criminal networks may be operating, to highlight the signs to look out for and encourage reporting so we can safeguard vulnerable people and maximise our intelligence picture.

“We will continue to work together to tackle these issues and make the South West a hostile environment for these suspected criminals to operate in.

“Our work continues to be supported by information and intelligence we receive from our communities, and we would continue to urge anyone with information relating to child exploitation or suspected drug related activity to please report it to us.”

Regional results:

• 102 people were arrested
• 65.7kg of cocaine was seized, plus 274g of crack cocaine,13.9kg of cannabis and 455grams of heroin
• £119,326 in cash was seized
• 38 people were safeguarded
• 29 suspected county lines were shut down
• 17 vehicles were seized, including six e-bikes
• 100 mobile phones were seized
• 26 weapons were seized
   

Force-wide breakdown:

Wiltshire Police

• 25 arrests
• £33, 531 cash seized
• 1.3kg of cannabis, 0.95kg cocaine, 143g crack, 160g heroin, 125g ketamine, 316 Valium pills and 107 MDMA pills seized.
• 10 people safeguarded
• 1 firearm seized, a Torch Taser, plus 13 other weapons including knives and machetes

Avon and Somerset Police

• 2 arrests
• £718.60 cash seized
• 38.32g crack, 8.42g heroin, 8.58g cocaine, 19.31g of cannabis reason seized
• 2 weapons seized 

Devon and Cornwall Police

• 41 arrests
• £57,466 cash seized
• 85g crack, 194.4g heroin, 64kg cocaine, 11.6kg cannabis resin, 0.5kg ketamine seized
• 15 people safeguarded
• 3 weapons seized including hunting knives. Also 8 firearms including stun gun and pepper spray

Dorset Police

• 23 arrests
• £26,134 cash seized
• 2.5kg of cannabis, six wraps of crack, 92g of heroin, 0.45kg of cocaine seized plus ketamine, MDMA and mixing agents
• 10 weapons seized including a knuckleduster
• 5 people safeguarded

Gloucestershire Constabulary

• 10 arrests
• £1,475 cash seized
• 124g cocaine, 40g cannabis, 8g crack and 0.4g heroin seized
• 8 people safeguarded
• 3 weapons including knives and machetes

Published Friday 4 July 2025