Police in Suffolk have arrested seven people following a week of action targeting county line drug dealing.

 

The clampdown on county drugs lines, which started on Monday 19 March was co-ordinated by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) and saw officers from Suffolk Police, along with the regional disruption team, the National Crime Agency, and other partner agencies from the eastern region carry out action across the county to disrupt offenders and safeguard vulnerable people.

County lines is a term used to describe gangs, groups or drug networks that supply drugs from urban to suburban areas across the country, including market and coastal towns, using dedicated mobile phone lines or “deal lines”. Offenders exploit children and vulnerable adults to move the drugs and money to and from the urban area, and to store the drugs in local properties.

The gangs will take over a property within a town, often belonging to someone who is vulnerable, in a process known as cuckooing and are also known to use intimidation, violence and weapons, including knives, corrosives and firearms.

During the week officers carried out six warrants and made seven arrests.

One man was arrested in connection with drug offences in Newmarket on Tuesday 20 March and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre. Officers seized over 270 wraps of cocaine and heroin. 25 year old Jayden Ryan of Woolridge Way in London was subsequently charged possession with intent to supply Class A – crack cocaine, possession of a quantity of diamorphine and possession of an offensive weapon, namely a baseball bat.

A red Ford Fiesta was stopped in Bury St Edmunds with a 26 year old arrested on suspicion of possession of three wraps of class A drugs and £600 cash and was taken to Bury St Edmunds PIC for questioning. Chad Stewart of Blenheim Road in London was charged with possession of a class A drug – heroin to appear before Ipswich Magistrates Court.

Three men, aged 46, 44 and 42 were arrested following a warrant at a property on Anglian Place in Haverhill. The 46 year old, arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs was bailed pending further enquiries, while the 44 year old and the 42 year old arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply were both released under investigation.

Finally in Oulton Broad, a 20 year old man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, breach of bail and possession of an offensive weapon, while a 17 year old teenage girl with him was arrested on suspicion of possession an offensive weapon in a public place. Both were taken to Great Yarmouth Police Investigation Centre for questioning. Damien Laverick of Waterloo Road in Great Yarmouth was later charged with possession of a bladed weapon to appear before Norwich Magistrates. The 17 year old girl was released under investigation.

 

ERSOU Detective Superintendent Bernie Morgan said:  “We are determined that there will be no place to hide for those who bring harm to our region by exploiting people and pedalling dangerous, illegal substances.

We’re committed to taking strong action to deal with county drug lines in the eastern region, and the co-ordinated response is a great example of law enforcement and partner agencies working together to tackle serious criminal activity and to protect the vulnerable. We will continue to work with our national and partner agencies to ensure that the eastern region’s response to county lines is robust and that we are protecting any vulnerable person from harm.”

Anyone with information about illegal drugs activity should contact Suffolk Constabulary on 101; however, if you have information but want to stay anonymous you can also contact the  charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.