Collaborative action impacts drugs gangs across the South West

More than £800,000 worth of drugs and 267 weapons have been taken off the streets in the latest phase of Operation Scorpion.

Aimed at creating a ‘ring of steel’ around the region, Dorset Police joined with forces in Devon & Cornwall, Avon & Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire for the operation.

Also involved were the respective Police and Crime Commissioners, British Transport Police, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and the charity Crimestoppers.

The latest phase of Operation Scorpion aligned with the National County Lines Intensification Week from March 4 to 10.

The focus was targeting visible street dealing and the impact of drug activity within local communities.

It highlighted the importance of intelligence from local people to help police support communities and to demonstrate the metaphoric ring of steel around the South West – making it harder for criminals to cross county borders to conduct crime.

During the week police cracked down on drugs activities through a multifaceted approach including targeted warrant executions, visible policing in hotspot areas, address checks known to have been linked to cuckooing, patrols along the travel networks of the South West and robust efforts to safeguard vulnerable individuals.

Using valuable community intelligence, forces executed targeted enforcement activities, strategically disrupting individuals who exploit and profit from the harmful impact drugs have on local communities.

Across the South West region, it led to:

• 126 arrests
• Over £814,000 worth of drugs seized (including one seizure of three bottles of Methadone, five Valium tablets, 166 MDMA tablets, tobacco and vapes with a value of £500,000)
• Over £95,000 cash seized
• 67 weapons seized and over 200 weapons surrendered by the public
• 135 vulnerable people safeguarded.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick said: “I know the damage illegal drugs can do to communities and that is why I am so pleased to see these results from the latest round of Operation Scorpion.

““I am clear; drug gangs and those intent on bringing illegal drugs to Dorset and the wider South West region will be targeted and removed.

“I would like to thank the public for the information they have provided and reinforce the importance of community intelligence to the success of operations like this.

“Please continue to contact us with information and report any concerns you may have, whether in relation to drug activity, vulnerable people being exploited or any other suspicious activity and help us make the South West a hostile environment for drug related crime.”

Anyone with information about illegal drugs activity should report it to their local police service online or via 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.