£33k of class A drugs seized in Wiltshire Operation Scorpion raids
A week of intense activity against drug related crime was carried out earlier this month
Over £33,000 worth of Class A drugs has been seized by Wiltshire Police during a week of tackling drug crime in the county, as well as finding three missing children.
As part of Operation Scorpion, which aims to create a 'Ring of Steel' across the South West region, the force arrested more than 30 people during a week of intensified action.
The seventh phase of Scorpion, Wiltshire Police recorded 176 cases of their intervention's affecting drug dealing activity and disrupting drug gang operations that can cross county lines.
Officers from our county worked alongside colleagues in Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire, as well as the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, charity CrimeStoppers and British Transport Police.
The operation ran during the first week of March (4th-10th) and achieved the following results:
• 31 arrests made
• £24,000 cash seized
• Class A drugs (cocaine and heroin) valued at £33,600
• 27 people safeguarded
• 79 cuckooed addresses visited
• Weapons seized included two real guns, one imitation gun, several knives (including 100 surrendered by the public), a Samurai Sword and a set of nun-chucks.
• Numerous assets seized including a car, designer jewellery and clothing.
During the operation, three children who were missing from homes outside of Wiltshire were found being exploited to run drugs as part of County Lines gangs.
They have been returned home safely.
Commissioner pleased but concerns remain
Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Philip Wilkinson, is pleased with the results.
“This iteration of Operation Scorpion has seen some great outcomes as a result of well planned and executed operations by Wiltshire Police and the other four Forces across a week of intensification.
“Operation Scorpion demonstrates a border-less approach to policing to reduce the serious harm and violence caused by drugs across the whole region, as drug crime isn’t just a problem in urban police areas."
However, the PCC added that he's concerned about child exploitation and is urging parents to have the difficult conversations with their children around County Lines, knife crime and associated criminality, and know what signs to look out for.”
Detective Superintendent Charlotte Tucker from Wiltshire Police said: "We are pleased with the results of this iteration of Operation Scorpion as our officers and staff managed to not only seize substantial amounts of illegal drugs and proceeds of crime like cash and assets, but also safeguarded many vulnerable people.
"We are attempting to make Wiltshire safer by taking illegal substances off the streets, arresting those who deal them as well as dismantling those criminal gangs and County Lines.
"Equally as important is the work we are doing to protect and help those vulnerable victims - often children and young adults - who are exploited to become part of these criminal networks. Our work this time has led to three children, who were from outside of our area, being returned safely to where they live.
"Safeguarding these vulnerable people is our priority along with protecting all in our communities.
"We know that those living in our towns and villages are often affected by this type of criminality which causes misery and harm to our communities.
"Our work doesn't stop at the end of this operation. We know that those who supply and distribute illegal drugs operate in a border-less way, creating
complex networks of drugs lines across the region. We will continue to take a strong and robust stance against this sort of exploitative criminality.
"Our message is clear – Wiltshire and the South West is no place for drugs.”