Operation Advance: Major action on County Lines drug dealers

Dear Resident

We’ve been executing warrants and making arrests in Walsall as part of a co-ordinated operation against those involved in County Lines drug dealing.

Raids have been taking place around the West Midlands with arrests, phones used to run drugs lines seized and more than £20,000 in cash recovered.

Officers from West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit teamed up with neighbourhood officers to carry out a warrant at an address in Bloxwich and made one arrest.

In Walsall, we’ve been speaking to young people in schools and residential homes about County Lines and how they can get help if they or a friend are being drawn into it, while also speaking to teachers about how they can support young people. 

We’re also been visiting the addresses of known gang members. This comes a day after we executed a warrant at an address in Bloxwich, arrested a man and seized both Class A and B Drugs. 

It’s all part of Operation Advance, which is designed to bring the full strength of our force to bear in a day of intensive activity.

While Operation Advance normally focuses on a particular city or borough, today is focusing on County Lines across the region. 

County Lines sees organised criminal groups use dedicated phone numbers to move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.  

They exploit vulnerable people, including children and those with mental health or addiction issues, by recruiting them to distribute the drugs.  

This is often referred to as ‘drug running’. Criminals may also use a vulnerable person’s home as their base of operations.  

Det Insp Mark Robinson, from our County Lines Task Force, said: “County Lines drug dealers bring misery, violence and exploitation to countless people – from the young people they exploit and groom into a dangerous world of carrying drugs, to the drug users they supply to. 

"Today is about sending a message to those involved that we will tirelessly pursue them, arrest them and bring them to justice. 

"At the same time, we are committed to stopping people being drawn in to County Lines in the first place by protecting children and vulnerable people.” 

Click here to see what we have been doing across the force area today as part of Op Advance

Walsall Police