Massive Drug and Weapon Seizures Across Devon & Cornwall

In a significant blow to drug trafficking and criminal activity in the South West of England, over £800,000 worth of drugs and 267 weapons have been confiscated in a recent collaborative law enforcement operation.

This operation, known as Operation Scorpion, is the seventh of its kind and aims to encircle the region with a ‘ring of steel,’ making it a hostile territory for drug-related crimes.

The operation is a joint effort among the police forces of Dorset, Devon & Cornwall, Avon & Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire, along with their respective Police and Crime Commissioners, the British Transport Police, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU), and the charity Crimestoppers. This partnership pools resources to tackle the supply of drugs across the South West, emphasising the importance of community intelligence in rooting out drug-related activities.

During the National County Lines Intensification Week, which ran from March 4th, 2024, to March 10th, 2024, the focus was on visible street dealing and the broader impact of drug activities on local communities. The operation employed various tactics including executing warrants, conducting visible patrols in known hotspot areas, performing address checks related to cuckooing, monitoring travel networks across the South West, and safeguarding vulnerable individuals from exploitation.

The efforts in Devon & Cornwall led to substantial seizures and arrests:

• Drugs seized (monetary value): £370,000
• Cash seized: £20,000
• Tobacco and vapes seized (monetary value): £500,000
• People safeguarded: 73
• Arrests: 28
• Weapons seized: 10
• Lines disrupted: 1

Stephen Parker, Assistant Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Police, underscored the proactive stance of the police in making Devon and Cornwall inhospitable to drug activities. He emphasised the continuous nature of these efforts beyond just the intensification weeks and highlighted the crucial role of public intelligence in enabling police actions.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly, echoed the sentiment, stressing the importance of community enforcement and the collective endeavour to eliminate drugs from the South West. She highlighted the operation’s role in reducing drug use in communities and its success in addressing the public’s concerns regarding drug dealing.

The authorities continue to urge anyone with information about illegal drug activities to report it to their local police service or anonymously through Crimestoppers. This ongoing fight against drug trafficking and exploitation in the South West aims to safeguard communities and dismantle criminal networks, demonstrating a united front against crime in the region.