What Devon and Cornwall Police seized in a week-long crackdown

Officers across Devon and Cornwall spent the last full week of June inside pubs, clubs and licensed venues, and by the time the operation wrapped up they had 32 arrests and a pile of drugs, cash, weapons and guns to account for.

That was the local end of Operation Scorpion 15, a coordinated crackdown that ran right across the South West between 22 and 28 June 2026.

📷Cocaine seizure in Plymouth, Heroin and Crack seizure in Plymouth

Inside Operation Scorpion 15

Now in its fifteenth run, Operation Scorpion brought together five police forces: Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. They were backed by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and British Transport Police, with this round aimed squarely at the night-time economy.

Across the whole region the week produced 103 arrests, 16 adults and children safeguarded, over 5kg of Class A drugs and 24kg of cannabis seized, £81,747 in cash, and 8 weapons and 4 firearms taken off the streets. Spice, ketamine, MDMA and amphetamine were among the drugs recovered.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman for Devon and Cornwall Police led the operation. “Operation Scorpion is an established and proven initiative, now in its fifteenth iteration, designed to make the South West a hostile environment for drug dealers and those involved in associated criminality,” Matt said.

What Devon and Cornwall Police seized

The Devon and Cornwall force ran seven warrants and made 19 checks on licensed premises over the week. That activity brought 32 arrests and 13 charges, with four adults safeguarded.

Officers also seized 5.5kg of heroin, spice, cocaine and crack, along with £26,654 in cash. Four weapons including knives and hammers were recovered, and two guns.

📷British Transport Police with Devon & Cornwall Police at Plymouth Railway Station

A £44,000 spice haul in Exeter

The standout seizure came in Exeter, where officers took 2kg of spice off the streets with an estimated street value of £44,000, plus £8,000 in cash.

Drugs Liaison Officer DC Nick Burnett explained why that matters. “Spice is a particularly dangerous synthetic cannabinoid,” Nick said. He warned that its effects can last anywhere from one to six hours and can leave the user wanting more and taking larger doses.

Nick said spice was designed to mimic cannabis, but that synthetic cannabinoids can overstimulate the serotonin system, which can lead to high fever, rapid pulse, confusion, convulsions, organ failure and death. “It is very satisfying that this large amount has been taken out of circulation,” he said.

📷Spice seizure in Exeter

Support alongside enforcement

Alongside the raids, officers used diversion and support schemes for people caught with drugs for personal use, working with street pastors, venue security, taxi marshals and support services to reach vulnerable people.

British Transport Police joined Devon and Cornwall Police for the first two days before moving on to Dorset. Its County Lines Taskforce lead, Superintendent David Udomhiaye, said teams deployed to Plymouth, Bournemouth and Weymouth stations over four days, making arrests and safeguarding interventions. “If you’re using the railway to sell drugs, your days of doing so are numbered,” David said.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, went out with officers in Plymouth as they made arrests. “Alongside the firm action to disrupt organised criminal groups we also need to tackle the root causes of drug use,” Alison said. She thanked members of the public who report drug crime, and urged anyone struggling with drug abuse, or who knows someone who is, to reach out for support.

📷cash

How to report drug crime

Police are still asking residents to pass on what they know. Concerns can be reported by calling 101, or 100% anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

📷Three arrests at Plymouth Railway Station - British Transport Police with Devon & Cornwall Police and PD Ralph