Arrests following joint work between officers in Dorset and Scotland

Three arrests have been made after detectives from Dorset Police and Police Scotland joined forces for a joint day of action.

It was part of an investigation into reported drug supply and modern day slavery offences.

Officers executed warrants at addresses in Aberdeen and arrest enquiries at an address in Southampton.

They followed a long-running investigation led by Dorset Police into the suspected activities of a county lines drugs network reportedly operating between Bournemouth, London and Scotland and involved in the alleged exploitation of vulnerable people.

At the addresses in Aberdeen, a large quantity of suspected heroin and cocaine was recovered, as well as cash and mobile phones.

A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drug supply and modern day slavery offences as part of the ongoing Dorset Police investigation and has been released under investigation as further enquiries are carried out.

A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with drugs offences. He was released on an undertaking to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court at a later date.

At the address in Southampton, a 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of modern day slavery offences and she has also been released under investigation as further enquiries are conducted.

Detective Inspector Richard Winn, of Dorset Police, said: “We take reports relating to the suspected supply of class A drugs in our communities and alleged exploitation of vulnerable young people extremely seriously.

“We have been conducting extensive enquiries into this suspected criminal network over several months and following evidence obtained, we worked with Police Scotland to execute the warrants and secure what we believe to be important evidence.

“We will continue to do all we can to investigate these reported offences and work with colleagues from other forces to ensure alleged offenders have nowhere to hide.”

Detective Sergeant Sam Harris, of Police Scotland North East Division, said: “We are fully committed to working with our policing colleagues throughout the UK to target those suspected of being involved in county lines activity.

“We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to disrupt this type of crime while safeguarding exploited individuals and intercepting harmful drugs before they reach our communities.”