THIRTY- SEVEN people have been arrested during West Mercia Police’s crackdown on county line gangs.

The force joined a national week of tackling organised crime between October 11 and October 17.

The week included the execution of several warrants at addresses, various vehicle stops and numerous visits to educational and community venues.

Drugs with an estimated street value of more than £50,000 were seized.

Redditch Advertiser: Drugs with an estimated street value of more than £50,000 were seized during the week.Drugs with an estimated street value of more than £50,000 were seized during the week.

Assistant Chief Constable Damian Barratt said: “With 37 arrests made, various warrants executed, and cars stopped we have significantly disrupted county lines activity across West Mercia. Importantly, we have safeguarded a number of vulnerable people.

“The intelligence gathering and preparation that has gone into making arrests and disrupting these drug trafficking lines have been, in some cases, weeks and months in the making."

‘County lines’ activity involves a group from a large urban area travelling to smaller locations to sell drugs.

Redditch Advertiser: Five knifes were confiscated during the operation. Five knifes were confiscated during the operation.

They will use local properties as a base for their activities which is often acquired by force referred to as ‘cuckooing’.

Across the West Mercia policing area weapons including three air-weapons and five knives were confiscated, four vehicles were seized, multiple mobile phones and more than £46,000 cash were recovered.

Where vulnerable people are known to live and potentially be at risk to cuckooing for example, 104 addresses were visited.

Redditch Advertiser: Multiple mobile phones and £46,000 cash was recovered during the operation. Multiple mobile phones and £46,000 cash was recovered during the operation.

ACC Damian Barratt added: “County lines continues to remain a priority for West Mercia Police. We want to ensure the region becomes a no-go area for travelling criminality.

“We will continue to pursue and prosecute those who bring drugs into our counties, commit violence and exploit vulnerable members of our communities.”

Anyone with suspicions that a property is being used to sell drugs from, or that a young and/ or vulnerable individual may be getting involved is asked to contact their local police station or to ring 101.