28 Arrests In County Lines Operation

30 January 2019, 11:28 | Updated: 30 January 2019, 11:29

Sussex police say they have made 28 arrests and 700 drug seizures during a week of action targeting suspected county lines drug dealers.

Cash worth £10,000 was also recovered as well as 32 mobile phones during the operation which started on Monday 21st January.

During the same week, officers carried out safeguarding action to support 17 vulnerable people and visited 91 addresses where people were at risk of being 'cuckooed' to check on their safety.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Rayland said; "This is the result of just one week's activity, and shows how we are continuing to disrupt dealers who try to distribute dangerous drugs across our communities. 

"Our work will continue relentlessly, targeting those who would bring harm.to local people, including often the most vulnerable."
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Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said; "County lines activity and the associated violence, drug dealing and exploitation have a devastating impact on young people and vulnerable adults. 

"The results from this intensification week show how much of an emerging threat it is across Sussex and I have been assured that there will be an ongoing determination to combat this crime type by our Force.

'County Lines' is a term used by Police and partner agencies to refer to drug networks, both gangs and organised crime groups, from large urban areas such as London, who use children and young people and vulnerable adults to carry out illegal activity on their behalf.