Admin I Friday, July 05, 2025
LONDON – The London Metropolitan Police have raked in over £600,000 of cash in a major crackdown on organized crimes, including drug networks, shutting ‘County lines’ across the UK.
The Met Police also shut down over 100 drug lines as part of efforts to reduce the number of vulnerable people exposed to criminality and abuse and tackle wider associated violence.
In just one week (between Monday, 23 June and Sunday, 29 June) Met officers arrested 301 people believed to be behind county lines drug networks, with 111 individuals subsequently charged, so far.
Besides, 260 vulnerable young people were engaged with and safeguarded to prevent their involvement in future organised crime, with officers making crucial interventions to keep them safe, the Met Police said.
‘County lines’ is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal groups (OCGs) and criminal gangs use phone lines to move and supply drugs, historically from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.
“While county lines is a very violent business model, the most insidious element is its exploitation of vulnerable people, including children and those with mental health or addiction issues, by recruiting them to distribute the drugs, or using their homes as a base for drug dealing in a practice known as ‘cuckooing’”, the Met Police said.
Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell, from the Metropolitan Police Service and National County Lines Coordination Centre, said:
“The Commissioner recently spoke about the indisputable link between county lines and violence. Disrupting county lines is not only vital in keeping society’s most vulnerable safe, but also as a key part of our mission in tackling violence.
“The criminals behind these networks are dangerous individuals, capable of manipulating and exploiting anyone to achieve their aims.
“Dedicated Met officers continue to work closely with other police forces around the UK to ensure dangerous offenders are stopped.”
Met officers also seized substantial evidential items from suspects during the same week, including 12 firearms, 78 dangerous weapons (including samurai swords and Zombie knives)
nearly 70kg of class A drugs (such as crack cocaine and heroin),
over £600,000 of cash
At one address in the Isle of Dogs, London, a suspect was arrested and found in possession of several class A and class B drugs, cash amounting to over £5,000 and several high-value items including sports cars and designer watches.
Two others were arrested at addresses in Portsmouth and one was detained at London Gatwick Airport. There have since been charges relating to these arrests.