Three modern slavery charges linked to the trafficking of a child to sell drugs have been secured as part of a week-long British Transport Police (BTP) County Lines Taskforce operation.
The Taskforce protected more than 20 people, including two 11-year-olds, made over 60 arrests and seized numerous weapons and drugs across the country.
Additionally, 11 active drugs lines were shut down with investigations ongoing into the organised crime groups controlling them. More than £13k of illicit cash was seized along with 46 phones linked to drug supply.
As part of the enhanced activity during the national County Lines Intensification Week, which ran from 2–8 March, 46 operations were conducted across the railway network, with 34 in partnership with local police forces.
Officers were deployed to stations and on train services, and executed search warrants at addresses to combat County Lines. Across the week they made a total of 86 drug seizures including crack cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and ketamine, and removed 34 weapons from the railway, including an imitation firearm and two Samurai swords.
The operations featured uniformed and plain clothes officers, dogs trained in passive drug detection and metal detection arches.
This, combined with shared intelligence between forces, led officers to eight cuckooed addresses where the vulnerable victims were identified and safeguarded.
Notable activity included:
Three men being arrested and charged with exploitation under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 as part of an ongoing BTP investigation into the trafficking of a child in the Midlands. Two of them were also charged with Conspiracy to Supply crack cocaine and heroin. The vulnerable victim in the case has been safeguarded.
A warrant conducted at an address in North London, where a 43-year-old woman was arrested and 1.5kg of crystal meth was found along with a snap bag of cocaine.
A 24-year-old man was arrested for Possession with Intent to Supply Class A drugs at Market Harborough station. A search of his home address resulted in the seizure of a knife and an imitation firearm, a large number of white and brown wraps, a pot of brown powder, a large bag of cannabis and approximately £1,500 cash.
At Eastbourne station two 11-year-old boys both found to be in possession of cannabis were safeguarded after they were spotted attempting to get into a taxi alone. Officers intervened and engaged with them, and both were returned home after checks were carried out and they are now subject to child protection and safeguarding plans.
BTP Superintendent David Udomhiaye said: “We will not waver in our mission to bring down these drugs lines and to put the organised criminals that run them and prey on the vulnerable behind bars.
“These results are indicative of the work that we do every day to tackle the menace of drugs gangs who ply their trade using the rail network.
“Six potentially life-changing interventions have been made to children who were at the mercy of these gangs.
“Everyone can play a part in stopping child exploitation by familiarising themselves with the Children’s Society’s Look Closer awareness campaign which explains how to spot the tall tale signs and report any concerns to police.”
“Anyone with any information about County Lines activity or concerns that a child is being exploited is urged to report it to us by texting 61016.”
BTP.Police.uk
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