Officers seize over £100,000 in cash and safeguard vulnerable teenager during intensive county lines enforcement drive.
Kent Police has dismantled a significant county lines drug network as part of a major week-long national operation targeting organised drug dealing across the UK.
Officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit executed warrants at properties linked to the suspected drug line between 2 and 8 March. The operation resulted in 47 arrests and the recovery of more than £100,000 in cash, alongside substantial quantities of drugs and valuable assets.
Significant Seizures and Recovery
During the enforcement action, officers located £60,000 in cash and recovered 100 grams of pure gold worth approximately £13,000. A mobile phone connected to the drug line was also seized, along with quantities of cannabis. Additional assets recovered included designer goods and other items of value, demonstrating the financial scale of the operation.
Vulnerable Young Person Safeguarded
A particularly significant outcome of the operation was the identification and safeguarding of a 15-year-old girl believed to have been subjected to criminal and sexual exploitation. The discovery highlighted the vulnerabilities often associated with county lines operations, where young people are frequently coerced into running drugs on behalf of older criminals.
Part of National Enforcement Drive
Kent’s operation was part of the UK-wide County Lines Intensification Week, a coordinated national crackdown that concluded on 8 March. The wider initiative delivered unprecedented results, with police forces across the country making 2,180 arrests for drug supply, modern slavery, and weapons offences. Nationally, 335 drug lines were dismantled and more than 1,300 vulnerable people were safeguarded, including almost 800 children.
The national enforcement action also resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of Class A drugs, including 180 kilograms across the UK, alongside 377 bladed weapons and 121 firearms.
Ongoing Commitment to Communities
The operation reflects police commitment to disrupting drug networks that cause serious harm within communities. County lines operations typically involve criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable young people and adults to distribute drugs from urban centres into smaller towns and rural areas.
Key Takeaways
- Kent Police made 47 arrests and recovered more than £100,000 in cash during a week-long county lines operation between 2-8 March
- Officers identified and safeguarded a 15-year-old girl believed to be criminally and sexually exploited
- The operation was part of a national enforcement drive that dismantled 335 drug lines across the UK
What This Means for Kent Residents
Kent residents can expect continued police focus on disrupting county lines networks operating in their local areas. If you have information about suspected drug dealing or exploitation of vulnerable people, contact Kent Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
