Drug dealers caught and drug lines smashed in the City during intensification week

Officers arrested a suspected drug dealer and found 33 snap bags of cocaine during the latest County Lines intensification week.

The 22-year-old man was observed to deal controlled drugs to two buyers in the City.

The suspect was strip searched and over 30 grip seal bags of white powder were located, which has a street value of over £2,500. A search was conducted at an address and resulted in the seizure of 700-1000 small tablets, most likely MDMA, 20 snap bags of potential Crystal Meth, and around 10-15 boxes of Diazepam. He has been bailed while investigations continue.

Police forces across the country have taken part in the national County Lines intensification week cracking down on drug traffickers.

City of London Police smashed four drug lines that were supplying drugs to thousands of people in the Square Mile.

Three warrants were carried out in Kent in connection with two harmful drug lines. A 26-year-old man and 21-year-old man were identified as controlling two drug lines. The older man was stopped near an address and found to have wraps of suspected heroin, powder cocaine, and cannabis on him.

A search of an address and uncovered £7,000 hidden in a sock under the bed. They were arrested and bailed while investigations continue.

Another drug line was dismantled following a warrant being executed. Moynul Islam, 35, of Scrattons Terrace, Barking, was charged with being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. A quantity of crack, heroin, cocaine and Xanax was seized.

A 29-year-old man was also arrested for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. He has been bailed pending further investigations.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Bishop, of the City of London police, said:

“We are committed to dismantling the trade in illegal drugs every day of the year and arrest and lock up the people responsible.

“Organised criminal gangs seek to profit from the exploitation of vulnerable individuals and young people, spreading misery and the violence that is frequently associated with it. If you buy drugs in the City, you are supporting these gangs who bring in dangerous weapons and wider criminality.

“By shutting down drug lines and confiscating drugs and cash, we are sending a very strong message to anyone thinking about bringing Class A drugs onto the streets of City of London: we will create a hostile environment for dealers, we relentlessly pursue those responsible and bring them to justice and we will safeguard those already affected by this kind of criminality.”

A passive drug joint operation between the British Transport Police and City of London Police Specials was conducted at Liverpool Street Station to identify County Lines subjects. Three arrests were by British Transport Police – two for knives and one for Class A drugs.

During the intensification week, 1,434 children and vulnerable adults were actively safeguarded, with police forces working with relevant services and charities, using a variety of options available to them, including specialist support referrals, strategy meetings, safety plans created and Modern Slavery Crime reports.

The intensification week saw:

• 1965 arrests made (adults is 91.7% and children 8.3%)
• Approx. 2.4 million cash seized
• 325 bladed weapons seized (inc knives, machetes, axes & swords)
• 93 other weapons seized (inc knuckledusters, ASPS, batons, hammers, nun chucks)
• 83 Firearms seized (15 S.1, 29 S.5 and 39 imitation plus ammunition)
• 241 deal lines seized
• Approx. 178.49 kg of Class A drugs (16.1kg crack, 11kg heroin, 151.3kg cocaine)
• Approx. 7,217 Class A wraps seized ready for sale
• Approx. 11,200 thousand cannabis plants
• 6 Dangerous Dogs seized
• 584 cuckooed addresses visited
• 395 females safeguarded (214 adults, 181 under 18)
• 784 males safeguarded (345 adults, 439 under 18)

Commander Paul Brogden, NPCC lead for County Lines, said:

“Protecting communities is our top priority and the arrests of these organised criminals who control and hold drug lines will contribute hugely to this.

“Over the past week we have seen an overwhelming amount of drugs seized and arrests made and this will have had a substantial impact on drug supply and associated crime, particularly violence, that comes with it.

“The intensification work isn’t just about arrests and seizures, it’s also about crime prevention, identifying the people being exploited for other’s gain and making sure they receive the best support possible.

“To be clear, we remain persistent in pursuing these offenders and our officers work tirelessly all year round to identify and close down these drug lines. We will continue to root out those who are exploiting the vulnerable and supplying drugs which devastates communities across the country.”