Results from across the country following an intensification week targeting County Lines and its surrounding criminality, are in.

Running from 23-29 June 2025, County Lines Intensification Week aimed to target those exploiting vulnerable and young people to deal drugs.

Read on to find out more from each region, and don't forget to visit your home force website for a breakdown where you live.

 

EMSOU: Vulnerable people safeguarded, and Modern Slavery charges made in the East Midlands

Vulnerable people have been safeguarded, almost 100 arrests made, and child exploiters charged with offences under the Modern Slavery Act, across the East Midlands.

Across the county, a total of 94 arrests were made, 91 vulnerable individuals were spoken with or safeguarded, and 84 cuckooing visits were made.

Cuckooing involves criminals taking over the home of a vulnerable person to use it for illegal activities, such as drug dealing.

Over £300k worth of class A drugs were seized, along with more than £300k worth of cannabis, and over £66k of cash recovered.

11 weapons, nine firearms and two imitation firearms were seized, along with large amounts of illicit tobacco, shisha and vapes.

In Lincolnshire, the force's first ever County Lines charge under the Modern Slavery Act was also made.

This activity was supported by Home Office surge funding via the National County Lines Coordination Centre.

Regional Assistant Chief Constable Di Coulson, said: “14 deal lines were closed down across the region, thanks to these efforts in the intensification week. That will have made a big difference to the most vulnerable people in the East Midlands.

“They were at the heart of this operation, and even though the week is over we will continue to identify and target those responsible for this type of horrendous exploitation.”

 

NWROCU

We have seen our six North West police forces cracking down on county lines with arrests and safeguarding happening throughout the region.

More than 440 arrests were made during the intensification week as well as 66 individuals safeguarded, 34 being under the age of 18.

96 cuckooed addresses were visited by officers and 490 individuals were engaged with or trained around county lines.

Over £270K worth of Class A drugs was seized as well as £169k worth of cannabis. Over £180K in cash was seized.

50 knives and blades were seized including zombie knives, machetes, hunting knives, axes, a large metal skewer, and a meat cleaver. Officers also uncovered other weapons such as knuckle dusters, air rifles, imitation firearms and ammunition.

Officers also seized luxury watches, designer clothes, electric bikes, gold jewellery, motorbikes, and 63k of counterfeit cigarettes.

North West County Lines Coordinator for the NCLCC Detective Inspector Adam Norton said:

"This intensification week has delivered powerful results, striking a major blow to those exploiting others through county lines drug supply. The number of victims safeguarded, and the number of weapons seized speaks volumes about the harm caused by those in control, and the determination of our teams to stop them.

"Led by the National County Lines Coordination Centre, and driven by the relentless efforts of the ROCU network, local policing, and partners, these operations shine a light on the outstanding work happening every day across the North West and beyond. These results are a clear statement that we stand united in protecting the vulnerable, and bringing exploiters to justice."

 

SWROCU

In the South West, SWROCU and its five regional forces came together for the week of coordinated activity to reduce the harm caused by county lines drug dealing. Highlights included:  

• 29 county lines shut down and 100 mobile phones seized 

• More than 100 arrests 

• Seizures of crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin and cannabis 

• Nearly £120k cash, 17 vehicles, and 26 weapons seized, including knives, machetes and knuckle dusters 

• 39 people safeguarded 

Critically, the region saw a huge focus on protecting young and vulnerable people, with thousands of taxi drivers and hotel staff urged to look closer to prevent their industries being used to enable the exploitation to continue. 

SWROCU’s TOEX Team also worked with Trading Standards to carry out joint visits to vape shops in North Somerset and Bristol which led to illegal single use vapes, counterfeit cigarettes and illicit tobacco with a combined retail value of around £7,500 being seized.  

The visits targeted shops suspected of supplying vapes and alcohol to children, which can be indicators of wider involvement in exploitation through county lines.

 

North East: Co-ordinated crackdown on drug dealing in the North East has seen more than 161 arrests and deal lines shutdown.

Officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), Northumbria Police, Durham Constabulary and Cleveland Police were joined by the prison services, local authorities, and safeguarding partners as they carried out several targeted operations across the region to safeguard vulnerable victims, shut down drug lines and educate young people around the dangers of becoming involved with drugs.

Across the North East alone, the intensification week saw numerous warrants executed resulting in 17 deal lines shutdown, large quantities of Class A and B drugs seized, and a total of 161 people arrested.

Results also showed that 14 vulnerable people in the North East had been safeguarded due to the national operation.

The region-wide activity saw large quantities of drugs seized with warrants also resulting in the seizure of cash and weapons.

NEROCU Regional County Lines Co-Ordinator Ian Randell, has commended the dedication of officers and staff working in the North East to continue to be at the forefront of tackling County Lines and the exploitation linked to it.

He said: “This may be our latest intensification period, but our message remains the same – we will not stop in our pursuit of organised criminals looking to hurt our North East communities with drug supply.

“We remain committed under Operation Sentinel, to putting offenders before the courts, educating young people around the dangers of becoming involved in county lines and safeguarding victims.

“I want to thank the outstanding partners we work with year-round, who help us build intelligence, shut down deal lines and protect those being exploited.”

Eastern England (ERSOU)

Policing and partner agencies joined together to target those behind county lines gangs exploiting young and vulnerable people across the eastern region.

Results included:

• 151 arrests, for offences including drug dealing and possession of weapons
• Dangerous weapons taken off the streets, including 28 knives, a gun, and two imitation firearms
• The seizure of £150,000 of class A drugs, 6,000+ cannabis plants, cannabis edibles and crystal meth
• The safeguarding of 24 vulnerable people
• The seizure of £160,000 in suspected criminal cash

SEROCU: Over 200 arrests and major drug seizures in the South East

In the South East, all four regional police forces joined forces to crack down on county lines activity, with a strong focus on arrests, safeguarding, and disrupting criminal networks.

During the week, 216 individuals were arrested across the region. Officers visited 73 cuckooed* addresses and engaged with or safeguarded 170 vulnerable individuals.

Significant quantities of Class A, B and C drugs were seized, including:

• Over 10kg of crack cocaine
• 3kg of heroin
• 500g of cocaine
• More than 2kg of cannabis

In addition, officers recovered over £195,000 in cash (additional counterfeit currency was also discovered), and seized 48 weapons. These included swords, prohibited zombie-style knives, knuckle dusters, and imitation firearms.

Community-focused enforcement also took place, notably in Surrey, where officers seized £8,000 worth of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco during targeted visits.

Joint operations with British Transport Police (BTP) were carried out on key transport routes, including the London–Brighton line, Milton Keynes station and Redhill train station in East Surrey. These operations aimed to intercept drug couriers and safeguard those being exploited.

In Sussex, a coordinated effort between BTP and local policing teams focused on engagement at train stations, targeting lines operating between London and the South East. Officers conducted weapon sweeps, removed knives, and raised awareness of the dangers of exploitation and drug-related harm.

 

* Cuckooing involves criminals taking over the home of a vulnerable person to use it for illegal activities, such as drug dealing.

 

YHROCU

Results for Yorkshire and the Humber included:

• 71 people arrested (48 males/13 females)
• £63,940 of Class A drugs seized
  
  
• £142,251 cash seized
  
  
• 70 cuckooed addresses visited
  
  
• 170 people safeguarded
  
  
• Care homes and schools visited