Heroin and crack seized in 'county lines' raids in the New Forest

HEROIN and crack cocaine were seized by police in the New Forest as part of a major operation to break up “county lines” drug dealing.

The action was part of a week-long national initiative joined in by Hampshire Police during which the local force netted a total of £28,000 of drugs and made 48 arrests.

In the New Forest two addresses were raided: one in Africa Drive, Marchwood, and the other at Nelson Close, New Milton.

Officers seized 14g of suspected crack cocaine and 6g of suspected heroin as well as two mobile phones.

A 37-year-old New Milton man was apprehended in the latter raid on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A. He has been released from custody but remains under investigation.

A 39-year-old man arrested in the Marchwood raid was released without charge.

Led by the National Crime Agency, the police strike aimed to tackle “county lines” drug dealing in which criminal gangs extend operations outside their usual city or urban base into more rural areas.

They often target property of vulnerable people to make a base – known as “cuckooing” – and send youngsters to the house to sell and deal drugs from it, known as a “trap house”.

In such operations dealers typically use a single phone line to facilitate the supply of drugs, making the mobile a valuable asset and an important piece of evidence.

Described as an “intense week of operational activity” by Hampshire constabulary, the action saw officers swoop on addresses across the county.

Teams executed warrants, made stop-and-searches, went on safeguarding visits and visited local schools to raise drug awareness.

Officers also manned Isle of Wight ferry terminals with drug dogs to check passengers as part of the initiative, run in partnership with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit and British Transport Police.

Overall, in Hampshire 29 men and six women were arrested. Suspected heroin with a street value of £14,700 was seized (around 147g), alongside £12,700 of suspected crack cocaine (198g) and £1,200 of cannabis – or 187g. Officers also confiscated £12,230 cash, a suspected Taser and two knives.

Supt Matthew Reeves (pictured), who led the operation, said: “This week of action has been hugely successful from our perspective.

“A number of officers and staff have come together to target county lines which present the greatest threat, risk and harm to our communities.

“This is work we continue as everyday business. County lines isn’t isolated to large UK cities, this is a real issue which is affecting Hampshire along with other areas in the country.

“It’s not only the obviously vulnerable who are groomed for county lines. Young people from all backgrounds have been groomed for transporting and dealing drugs.

“This type of criminality needs a partnership approach, including our communities. I would urge anyone who is concerned about someone who may be involved in this activity to contact us or one of our partners.”

The action complemented Hampshire’s own Fortress plan, which pledges to make the county a hostile environment for drug-dealers and to divert people early from the path to criminality.

County lines has become a national issue, with the office of the Children’s Commissioner for England estimating at least 46,000 youngsters are currently involved in gang activity.

DCI Paul Southey, from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “We are working hard, alongside partner agencies and our colleagues in Hampshire Constabulary to identify and target the most serious offenders in county lines drugs supply gangs.

“Those involved in county lines networks not only exploit the most vulnerable people in society, but their criminality has a wide and far-reaching effect across society.

“Drugs supply isn’t something we will tolerate in the south east, and we are determined to bring those involved to justice.”