Weapons, cash and illegal drugs were seized during a force-wide week of action to tackle so-called ‘county lines’ crime in West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire Police said 22 potential victims were safeguarded and 16 arrests made during the operation, which ran all week from Monday 8 October.
The aim of the campaign was to stop criminal networks bringing in illegal drugs into one or more area(s) using dedicated mobile phones.
The force added that the criminals involved will often exploit young children and vulnerable adults to commit crimes and will use violence and weapons.
DCI Carl Galvin – Director of Intelligence for West Yorkshire Police – led the operation: “I am very pleased how the operation went. It was carried out across the Force and we had some significant results.
“County Lines crime is something we are aware of and have been taking action to combat for some time. Much of it, however, has been covert work.
“During the week of action people might have seen a little bit more of us out and about but our work to tackle this crime is always on going.”
As well as targeting those involved in County Lines Crime, the Force also sees educating potential victims as important to preventing the crime.
Vulnerable victims are often caught up in the crime as drug-dealers look to exploit children or others and get them to “do their dirty work.”
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