Latest news with #drugcrackdown
BBC News
08-07-2025
- BBC News
Re-opening of railway line and nudist festival
Here's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media. Our pick of local website stories ITV West Country gave us the details of the government's decision to approve the long-awaited Portishead to Bristol railway line and new stations for Wellington and Cullompton.A power cut that left more than 8,300 homes without power on Monday evening was covered by Gloucestershire Live's report on a week-long naturist festival that is under way at a campsite in Langport gained a lot of reaction on social media. Our top three from yesterday Police arrest 37 in major drug crackdownRail users warned of delays as flood work beginsStock taken off shelves to stop 'brazen' thieves What to watch on social media Wiltshire Search and Rescue are working with the police and military as the search for a missing soldier County Cricket Club has announced that the funeral of David 'Syd' Lawrence will be held at Bristol's St Mary Redcliffe Church on Friday 18 July.A post on the UK Cop Humour Facebook page celebrating the retirement of a Wiltshire Police officer who worked as a football intelligence officer at both Swindon Town and international tournaments has seen a lot of reaction.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Police seize £618k in drugs in county lines crackdown
Eight drug lines have been dismantled in the West Mercia Police area during a week of action, the force says. Drugs with an estimated value of £618,000 were seized by officers along with more than £77,000 in cash and 20 weapons. Police also made 65 crackdown on county lines networks from 23 June formed part of Operation Target, the force's campaign to tackle serious and organised crime. the force worked alongside Merseyside Police, West Midlands Police, British Transport Police and partner agencies, including councils and housing associations. Drugs seized included a "large amount of cannabis, crack cocaine, powdered cocaine and heroin".Machetes, swords, knives and a crossbow were among the weapons recovered. 'Hostile environment' Officers made 34 visits to addresses believed to be forcibly used for drug dealing and as a result, safeguarded 14 vulnerable young people and adults, the force said. The force also went to schools and community events to raise awareness of the dangers and signs of county lines Ch Insp Jo Woods said: "Organised crime gangs seek to profit from the exploitation of vulnerable people, spreading misery, intimidation and violence in the name of profit."Our aim is to create a hostile environment for these individuals who wish to cause harm to members of our communities." Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said he continued to back the force with its year-round efforts to break supply said: "Drugs devastate communities, from addiction all the way to the exploitation of the most vulnerable in our society." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
04-07-2025
- The Independent
Huge county lines operation sees police arrest 2,000 people and seize hundreds of weapons
Almost 2,000 people have been arrested and hundreds of county lines drug networks dismantled in a significant week-long police crackdown across the UK, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) has announced. The nationwide operation, conducted between 23 and 29 June, resulted in 1,965 arrests and the closure of 241 drug lines. Officers also seized 501 weapons, approximately 178kg of Class A drugs, and around £2.4 million in cash. In London, the Metropolitan Police accounted for 301 of these arrests, with 111 individuals subsequently charged. One suspect was arrested at an address in the Isle of Dogs, east London, where he was found in possession of sports cars, designer watches, drugs and more than £5,000 in cash. The London force also shut down more than 100 drug lines and seized a dozen firearms, 78 weapons – including samurai swords and Zombie knives, nearly 70kg of class A drugs and more than £600,000 of cash. County lines networks are typically urban-based, drug-dealing gangs that use phone lines to sell drugs, mainly crack cocaine and heroin, to customers in other counties. Its 'most insidious element' involves the exploitation of vulnerable people, including children and those with mental health or addiction issues, by recruiting them to distribute drugs or by using their homes as a base for dealing, the Met said. In the latest crackdown, 260 'vulnerable or young people' in London were safeguarded with the aim of preventing them from getting involved again in organised crime. According to the NPCC, forces across the country safeguarded 1,179 people in total. Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell, from the Met Police and National County Lines Co-ordination Centre, said: 'The Commissioner recently spoke about the indisputable link between county lines and violence. 'Disrupting county lines is not only vital in keeping society's most vulnerable safe, but also as a key part of our mission in tackling violence. 'The criminals behind these networks are dangerous individuals, capable of manipulating and exploiting anyone to achieve their aims. 'Dedicated Met officers continue to work closely with other police forces around the UK to ensure dangerous offenders are stopped.'
Malay Mail
31-05-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Fourteen-year-old caught in S$626,000 Singapore-wide drug sweep as police net 139 suspects
SINGAPORE, May 31 — A 14-year-old student was among 139 suspects rounded up in an island-wide drug crackdown that saw narcotics worth more than S$626,000 (RM2 million) seized, Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) revealed yesterday. The Straits Times reported today that the two-week blitz, conducted between May 18 and May 30, spanned multiple areas including Ang Mo Kio, Boon Keng, Bukit Merah, Jurong and Sengkang. The haul included 3.6kg of heroin, 2.7kg of cannabis, 1.3kg of Ice, as well as ketamine, Ecstasy, cocaine, Erimin-5 tablets, LSD stamps, and vape devices suspected to contain THC — the psychoactive compound in cannabis. CNB estimated the seized drugs could have supported the habits of 2,840 abusers for a week. In one major raid on May 28, officers arrested a 46-year-old man at a hotel near Geylang Lorong 10, uncovering 2.8kg of heroin and other drugs stashed in his room. A day later, a 29-year-old Singaporean man suspected of trafficking was arrested at a Tampines condominium. A search of his hideout yielded a sizeable stash, including cannabis, Ice, ketamine, Ecstasy, LSD stamps, cocaine and THC vapes. Another operation on May 23 saw five foreign men, aged between 23 and 34, arrested in Tuas South. One suspect was caught attempting to discard drugs, while cannabis and Ice were found in a nearby lodging house. The spike in youth arrests continues to raise concerns. CNB noted that in 2024, 126 new drug abusers under the age of 20 were arrested — a 30 per cent jump from 2023. The youngest arrested last year was just 13. Under Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act, anyone found guilty of trafficking more than 15g of pure heroin, 250g of methamphetamine, or 500g of cannabis may face the mandatory death penalty. Investigations into the latest arrests are ongoing.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- BBC News
Boy, 15, among arrests in ketamine crackdown
Boy, 15, among arrests in ketamine crackdown The action was taken as part of Operation Shore, which aims to disrupt the supply of ketamine Fifteen people including a 15-year-old boy have been arrested in a cross-county crackdown on the supply of ketamine. The arrests were made at homes in Burnley, Padiham, Nelson, Ramsbottom and Huddersfield as part of a Operation Shore, Lancashire Police said. As well as the raids on properties, officers made several of the arrests by stopping suspicious drivers. Insp Matt Plummer, said: "We have disrupted the supply of this harmful drug and saw really positive results but we know this is just the beginning."
