NORTH Wales Police arrested 26 people as part of a national crackdown on county lines drugs gangs.

County Lines is the term used to describe drug dealing where mobile phones are used to supply drugs from large cities to towns and rural areas. County Lines are run by ‘Line Holders’ and the runners, often vulnerable people, deliver the drugs. The system of drug distribution leads to serious violence and exploitation.

Police forces across the country took part in the national county lines intensification week cracking down on drug traffickers.

North Wales Police, working in partnership with Merseyside Police, British Transport police and other partner agencies, carried out various activities throughout the week which resulted in Class A and B drugs being seized as well as weapons such as machetes, knives and air rifles.

A total 26 arrests were made and approximately £10,000 cash was also seized.

North Wales Police Neighbourhood policing teams and school liaison officers also undertook activities to engage with and educate vulnerable members of the public and over 2000 young people across the area.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for County Lines, Commander Paul Brogden, said: “County lines remains a top priority for policing and our latest intensification week figures shows further inroads policing has made into these criminal networks with 245 county lines closed during the week. We have targeted the drug dealers who destroy lives and communities with over 1,800 criminals arrested.

“County lines drug dealing is linked to the most serious violence, demonstrated through the horrific weapons seized across the week, where we saw 660 weapons seized, including 96 firearms, 466 bladed weapons, 98 other weapons including hammers, nun chucks, batons and knuckle dusters.

“We have a prevention-first approach to tackling county lines, stopping people being drawn in, whilst working to prepare communities for the impact of county lines and protect children and vulnerable adults, safeguarding them from harm, along with relentlessly pursuing offenders, and last week we safeguarded 1,653 people, of which 51% were children.”