Arrests and weapons seized in West Midlands Police county lines operation
More than 80 people were arrested and weapons and drugs were seized during a crackdown on youth violence and county lines chains.
West Midlands Police was involved in a week of action, between December 2 and 8, which saw officers target those with suspected links to drug networks, knife or other violent crime.
A total of 31 warrants were executed and 81 arrests made for offences ranging from drug dealing, gun possession, assault and violent offences – while more than £60,000 in cash was seized along with a haul of knives, guns and class A and B drugs.
County lines refers to drugs networks that use mobile phones as "lines" to organise trafficking between suburban areas such as Birmingham and the Black Country and rural areas like Shropshire.
Vulnerable drug users and young people are regularly exploited by county lines gangs.
Part of the operation saw an increased police presence at transport hubs, where officers were on the lookout for vulnerable teenagers.
Another focus was around tackling violence involving under 25-year-olds and tracing those who are suspected of being involved.
Superintendent Rich Agar, West Midlands Police's lead for county lines, said: "We are relentless in our pursuit of those responsible for these drug networks.
"They are not only behind putting illegal, and potentially lethal, drugs onto the street but often exploiting vulnerable teenage boys and girls to do their dirty work.
"But this week of action was a multi-team effort around also targeting those involved in youth violence.
"Sadly, we see all too often the devastating impact of this and in particular knife crime.
"We’re regularly building intelligence on those who could be potentially involved in drugs and youth violence and the net will always be closing in on those who make the wrong life choice and get involved."
Anyone with information can call West Midlands Police on 101, or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
