Police claim success in shutting down majority of county lines gangs in Britain
1,874 people have been arrested by police forces across the UK as part of a crackdown on county lines gangs involved in drug trafficking.
A senior police officer stated that nearly 56 percent of county lines gangs have been dismantled since 2019, with around 5,000 drug lines shut down in the last five years, although an estimated 4,000 are still in operation.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council reported that during a week-long intensification effort, 1,874 individuals were arrested and over 600 weapons, including firearms and knuckledusters, were seized.
Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell highlighted a correlation between knife crime and county lines gangs, noting an increase in bladed weapons confiscated by police, including Rambo knives and machetes.
Additionally, police seized eight XL Bully dogs suspected of guarding cannabis farms or drug stashes.
After a series of dog attacks, owning an XL Bully dog without a certificate became a criminal offence in England and Wales on Feb. 1.
County lines gangs typically use burner phones, which are untraceable disposable devices, to facilitate drug transactions, with each phone representing a drug line.
These gangs exploit vulnerable individuals, such as children and single mothers, for criminal activities like drug transportation and storage, often employing tactics like cuckooing to infiltrate households.
1,284 Addresses Targeted for Cuckooing
During the intensification week, authorities visited 1,284 suspected cuckooed addresses and safeguarded 1,653 people, while seizing over £2.5 million worth of Class A and Class B drugs, including crack cocaine, heroin, and cannabis plants.
Police operations led to the confiscation of £1.8 million in cash, and efforts are ongoing to close down additional drug lines to combat the spread of county lines gangs.
XL Bully dogs have become symbols of status for these gangs and are used for intimidation purposes, along with fake guns that can cause fear and harm.
Policing minister Chris Philp commended the efforts of law enforcement in dismantling these criminal networks, recognizing the harm and misery inflicted by county lines gangs on communities.
PA Media contributed to this report.
