THE LATEST County Lines Intensification Week resulted in arrests and seizures of class A drugs, weapons and cash. South Wales Police teamed up with British Transport Police and worked with other UK police forces such as the Metropolitan Police to target County Lines gangs, arresting 31 people between Monday (25 Nov) to Monday (2 Dec). They also seized class A drugs and weapons including machetes and CS sprays.
The week-of-action coincided with a national “week of intensification” which is led by the National County Lines Coordination Centre. Warrants were executed across south Wales which resulted in:
- 31 arrests;
- Five drugs lines put out of business;
- Drugs worth as much as £79k seized, including;
- 239 grammes of cocaine;
- 90g of crack cocaine;
- 179.64g of heroin;
- 75 cannabis plants;
- £22,774 in criminal cash seized;
- Seizure of a variety of weapons including machetes, CS sprays.
- Eight people were safeguarded
County Lines is the term used to describe drug dealing where mobile phones are used to supply drugs, typically from large cities to towns and rural areas. County Lines are run by ‘Line Holders’ and the runners, sometimes vulnerable people, deliver the drugs. The runners are often young people being exploited and may possess knives or other weapons. The system of drug distribution leads to serious violence and exploitation. Eight people were safeguarded throughout the week, including a child. It is believed these individuals, vulnerable because of their age, or their personal circumstances, such as addiction, are suspected to have been coerced and controlled by County Lines gangs and at serious risk of harm.
Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Holcombe, from the from Force Intelligence, Economic and Cyber Crime Unit, said: “County Lines presents a real threat to communities across south Wales. The gangs supply devastating drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin on a mass scale and their modus operandi usually involves high levels of violence and the coercion of the most vulnerable in our society, including children.
“This most recent intensification week has been a success and has sent an important message of defiance to those behind the gangs. But our work to tackle County Lines is not defined by a single week of action – we are relentless in our drive to tackle it and our efforts to put drug dealers behind bars, take drugs and weapons off our streets, and ensure dealers do not benefit financially from their crimes, continue throughout the year. But we can only do this with the support and information that we get from the public, so I encourage anyone with information about drug dealing in their community to contact us. We treat every piece of information as important and will use it to take action.”
Cardiff
On Wednesday (Nov 27), officers from the Cardiff and Vale Organised Crime Team worked with the Metropolitan Police to execute a search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act in Splott, where they suspected a County Line gang with links to London was using the property as a base to deal drugs. Heroin and crack cocaine was located in the garden of the property. A large machete and Rambo-style knife were also recovered. Tafari Marshall, 20, of Riverside Drive, Chiswick, London, Rhiel Mckenzie, 21, of Alma Link, Luton, Cockson Nsaka, 23, (no known address), and Mpho Pitso, 19, of Aberthaw Drive, Newport, were all charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. Victoria Tillman, 39, of Bayside Road, Splott, was charged with permitting the use of a premises for supplying heroin and crack cocaine.
On Saturday (Nov 30), officers executed a warrant in the Trowbridge area of Cardiff. They located their suspect who was in possession of 42 street deals of crack cocaine, six ounces of heroin and another 2.5 ounces of crack cocaine – drugs worth as much as £18k. Aaron Coleman, 28, of Trowbridge Green, Trowbridge, was charged with possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of the same. The occupier of the property, who it is believed was being *cuckooed, was safeguarded.
Pontypridd
On Friday (Nov 22), plain clothed officers arrested two men in Craig, near Pontypridd. One man was arrested in the street and another man was arrested in a nearby flat. Officers seized 93 street deals of cocaine, half a kilogramme of cannabis and £1500 in cash. Abdul Farid, 28, of Corporation Road, Newport, was charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, possession of a cannabis, and possessing criminal property, namely money. Sam Newman, 27, of Dover Street, Mountain Ash, was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, and possessing criminal property, namely cash.
Aberavon
On Friday (Nov 29), officers executed a search warrant at an address in Aberavon. Inside the address they located what is suspected to be cocaine, cannabis and nearly £8k in cash. Tracey Crew, 58, of Ysguthan Road, Aberavon, was charged with possessing with intent to supply cocaine, cultivating cannabis, possessing cannabis, possessing criminal property, namely cash. Enquiries are ongoing to locate another man.
Empowering the community
The work to tackle County Lines goes beyond enforcement. The intensification week also saw a focus on activities which help to empower communities to protect themselves and others from County Lines. Officers engaged with young people, parents, teachers and youth workers at youth clubs, community centres and schools, and also professionals working in housing and in transport, such as the rail network and taxis, which are often used by drug runners, to highlight the dangers of County Lines activity and how to spot the signs of manipulation and coercion of vulnerable people which comes with it.
Neighbourhood teams carried out knife sweeps in communities, searching places where weapons could potentially be stashed. County Lines drug dealers will often hide weapons in public places because it reduces the chances of them being caught carrying weapons – an offence which carries a significant jail sentence.
Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Holcombe, added: “The understanding, support, and cooperation from people in a wide variety of environments and roles is also very important so we also focus on educating and empowering those who together, can help form a formidable front line in the fight against County Lines.”
Anybody who has information about drug dealing, should contact 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
If somebody has concerns about a vulnerable person, they should contact 999 if they believe they are in immediate danger. Alternatively, they can contact 101, or their local social services department. Agencies such as St Giles Trust The Children’s Society or the NSPCC also offer direct support and provide valuable advice and information.
