Crackdown on county lines and child exploitation in Suffolk leads to 30 arrests in one week
Police arrested 30 people in Suffolk during a week-long national crackdown on county lines drug dealing and child exploitation.
The arrests were part of an operation by Suffolk Police who joined forces across England and Wales in a coordinated effort to disrupt county lines networks and to safeguard those most at risk.
Throughout the County Lines Intensification Week, officers carried out a series of warrants, operations and engagement events across the county.
They seized significant amounts of drugs, cash and weapons — including 1.49kg of cocaine with an estimated value of £146,720, 127 smaller wraps of cocaine, 102 wraps of crack cocaine, two cannabis plants and 207 grams of cannabis bud.
Officers also recovered 200 cannabis edibles, 100 small amounts of ketamine and amphetamine, £10,580 in cash, two knives, four deal lines and 37 mobile phones.
A total of sixteen of the 30 arrests were made by the constabulary’s proactive teams with seven suspects charged and remanded in custody. Eight drug lines were also disrupted.
Detective Superintendent Tam Burgess said: “We have had some excellent results, with a number of those arrested quickly charged and remanded.
“Local intelligence is a key part of ensuring we are investigating, targeting and collating evidence to disrupt those that are causing harm in our communities. I would continue to urge you to contact police if you have any concerns or information that may help brings those responsible to justice.
“Our work to tackle county lines drug dealing is not isolated to these weeks of action, it is a key focus for the constabulary and takes place day-in, day-out across the year.”
County lines refers to the movement of illegal drugs from one area to another — often across police and local authority boundaries.
Children and vulnerable adults are frequently exploited by gangs to carry out this work, including transporting drugs, carrying weapons and being involved in violence or sexual exploitation.
Supt Burgess added: “People involved in county lines are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store the drugs and money often using coercive, intimidating behaviours including use and threats of violence and weapons.
“Anyone can be exploited, those that groom their victims can often be subtle, giving them a belief of friendship or family — but it is exploitation.”
Police said the week was not only about enforcement as, alongside the arrests, officers and partner agencies carried out vulnerability checks at addresses potentially linked to cuckooing, where drug dealers take over a person’s home and use it as a base for criminal activity.
Those found at risk were offered support and guidance.
Community engagement was a focus of the campaign with hundreds of interactions taking place in schools and colleges.
Events included educational talks, pop-up awareness sessions and outreach visits to taxi firms, fast-food outlets, hotels and nightlife venues to help staff identify the signs of child exploitation and trafficking.
As part of Operation Makesafe, police cadets accompanied officers on visits to 13 hotels across the county to offer advice on spotting the indicators of child criminal exploitation.
These signs include changes in mood or behaviour, dressing differently, unexplained absences from school, regularly going missing or staying out late, carrying large amounts of cash, having expensive new items or possessing multiple mobile phones.
Educational sessions were also delivered in colleges, schools, care homes and children’s homes to reach some of the most vulnerable young people in the region.
In a separate operation, police teamed up with partner agencies in Ipswich, Lowestoft and Saxmundham to stop 70 vehicles and carry out licence and insurance checks.
Taxis and private hire vehicles, which are often used to move exploited children between locations, were a particular focus during this operation.
Officers highlighted the important role taxi drivers and other community members play in spotting exploitation.
They urged those working in public-facing roles to remain alert and report any concerns as many young victims do not realise they are being exploited — or are too scared or ashamed to ask for help.
Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I am pleased to see this dynamic, targeted approach having such a positive impact right across the county.
“I hope this pro-active enforcement sends out a clear message that criminals are not welcome anywhere in Suffolk.
“The threat to society from the illegal drugs business is huge — it wrecks lives, and whole communities are affected. Sadly, the drug barons often prey on individuals who are at risk and very vulnerable, which is absolutely despicable.
“It is clear the constabulary cannot deal with these issues alone, so I am very pleased to see this multi-agency approach being adopted to tackle criminal activity. Suffolk is a relatively safe place to live and we need to keep working together to keep it that way.
“I would like to congratulate all the officers involved in this impressive campaign. The results speak for themselves and build on the excellent work already being done.
“That said, there is no room for complacency and I can assure everyone I will do everything possible to provide the resources necessary to tackle these crimes.”
