More than 230 suspects have been arrested and £4million worth of drugs seized after Scotland Yard’s “best week ever” in the war on county lines gangs.
Around 70 criminal networks supplying crack, cocaine and heroin from London to smaller UK towns and cities were dismantled between October 3 and 9.
Detectives also recovered £334,500 in cash, a firearm, 12 vehicles and 56 weapons - including knives, machetes, a samurai sword, a meat cleaver and six knuckle dusters.
Officers also safeguarded 215 young males and 34 women exploited to courier drugs as far away as Scotland, Hull, Brighton, Devon and Cornwall.
Thirty-one referrals were made to agencies to assesses some as potential victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham McNulty said 109 people have been charged with offences concerning the movement of nearly 78 kilos of Class A drugs and cannabis.
County lines dealers, who traditionally operate using “burner” mobile phones, are increasing turning to social media platforms to attract customers also wanting ketamine and spice.
DAC McNulty added: “This is our best week ever - we’ve never done this before. It’s a real achievement.”
Since Operation Orochi started in November 2019, Met teams have closed 1,260 syndicates and arrested 2,470 line holders and their associates, resulting in 3,833 charges.
One possible consequence so far in 2022, has been a dramatic 23 per cent reduction in murders, particularly with so many potentially involved in fighting turf wars remanded in custody, serving sentences or diverted from crime.
The Yard has launched 79 homicide investigations in London this year, compared to 105 by October 13, 2021. The British Transport and City of London force are probing another two killings since January.
Of the grim toll, 11 were teenagers. However, by this time last year 25 youngsters had been murdered in an awful 12 months that claimed a post-war record of 30 teenage lives.
DAC McNulty, who argues enforcement is as important as community engagement and diversion, said: “Every murder is one too many but, actually, the stats do talk. We’ve seen murders, kidnaps and serious assaults linked to county lines.
“Individuals want to protect their market share and commodity. If someone is indebted to them, they show absolute brutality.
“I do believe that by tackling this cohort, we are impacting on violence in London.
“County lines bring misery to communities and devastate the lives of those who are most vulnerable in our society. There is an undeniable link between drugs and violence, so disrupting all routes of drug supply continues to be central to our work in making London safer for everyone.”
The Children’s Society joined forces with the Metropolitan Police to run its #LookCloser campaign alongside the week of action. Officers spoke to 6,000 students - some as young as nine - about the risks of being groomed.
James Simmonds-Read, of the charity’s prevention programme, said: “We welcome the arrest of criminals who cynically coerce young people to move drugs in county lines operations, but it’s equally important that these children are being offered the help they desperately need.
“Too often across the country, children are not identified as having been exploited and offered support, and our Look Closer campaign works closely with police and other professionals to help change that.
“It also highlights how the public can help police and other professionals by looking out for signs of children being groomed and exploited in the community and online and reporting concerns.”
