Police forces from across the South West have come together for their latest crackdown on drug supply networks operating across the area

The latest week of intensification as part of the Operation Scorpion initiative involved a range of enforcement action carried out across the region, as well as education and prevention work taking place.

Avon & Somerset Police, Devon & Cornwall Police, Dorset Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary and Wiltshire Police teamed up with the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) and British Transport Police to harness their collective capabilities in disrupting the supply of illegal drugs in the region.

The operation also coincided with the national County Lines Intensification Week (CLIW).

In total across the region: 106 people were arrested, 65.7kg of cocaine was seized, plus 274g of crack cocaine,13.9kg of cannabis and 455grams of heroin,

£119,326 in cash was seized, 38 people were safeguarded, 29 suspected county lines were shut down, 17 vehicles were seized, including six e-bikes,

100 mobile phones were seized, 26 weapons were seized

Operations across Devon and Cornwall led to: 41 arrests, £57,466 cash seized, 85g crack, 194.4g heroin, 64kg cocaine, 11.6kg cannabis resin, 0.5kg ketamine seized,

15 people safeguarded, 3 weapons seized including hunting knives. Also 8 firearms including stun gun and pepper spray, 4 county lines shut down, 3 vehicles and 19 mobile phones seized, Operation Scorpion 12 - Video compilation of regional activity.

Deputy Chief Constable for Devon & Cornwall Police Jim Colwell said: “Our goals during Operation Scorpion 12 were to protect young and vulnerable people from the dual harms of illegal drugs activity.

“Illegal drugs can do great physical and psychological harm, and the criminal gangs associated with their supply have no qualms about who they exploit, coerce, threaten and harm to enable their activities.”

DCC Colwell continued: “Devon & Cornwall Police has had a very successful Operation Scorpion and crackdown on county lines, and I’d like to thank all of our officers and staff, and our partners British Transport Police and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, for their huge efforts last week.

“They will continue this work day in, day out, all year round, in order to make the south west no place for drugs and to safeguard people from the effects of drug related crime.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said: “Operation Scorpion demonstrates very clearly the unstinting enforcement work that goes on to close down county lines and to disrupt other drug related crime.

“This helps us to protect those who are being exploited and to relieve the misery that people tell me they are suffering due to drug dealing and drug abuse.

“I’d also like to thank the public who have come forward with information which is invaluable to helping the police focus their resources where needed.

“We particularly urge the public to let us know if they spot the signs that a young person might be exploited, perhaps into carrying drugs.

“Please look closer and if you have intelligence around suspected drug activity in your community, or you think someone is being exploited, please report it anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.”