Police arrest eight people and seize more than £12,000 in cash during County Lines Intensification Week in Basingstoke

Officers arrested eight people, seized more than £12,000 in cash and disrupted various drugs lines during County Lines Intensification Week in Basingstoke.

The week of intensification, which ran from Monday 4 March until Sunday 10 March, saw officers focus their efforts on County Lines.

County Lines is a term used to describe organised criminal networks who move illegal drugs out of larger cities into towns and smaller cities in the UK, using dedicated mobile phone lines.

They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store the drugs and money. They will often use coercion, intimidation, violence and weapons.

During the intensification week, Basingstoke officers executed warrants, made arrests and carried out proactive patrols and stop checks.

Eight people were arrested, a total of £12,202.45 in cash was seized and Class A and Class B drugs were taken off the streets.

As well as making arrests, officers safeguarded a number of vulnerable men, women and children following various visits in the district.

Officers also visited a number of local schools to engage with students and to provide educational talks on drug-related harm.

On Monday 4 March, officers executed a warrant at an address on Highpath Way in Basingstoke and found a large amount of cannabis, more than £10,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia, mobile phones, and offensive weapons.

A 41-year-old man from Basingstoke was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug of Class B, money laundering and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

A 35-year-old man, also from Basingstoke, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug of Class B and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

Both men have been bailed while our enquiries continue.

On Tuesday 5 March, officers stopped a Mercedes C280 on Brighton Way in Basingstoke and seized bags of suspected Class A drugs and £280 in cash.

A 30-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A.

The man received a conditional caution for attempting to possess a controlled drug of Class A.

On the same day, a 28-year-old man from Basingstoke was arrested on suspicion of burglary dwelling – with intent to steal and criminal damage following an incident on Sinclair Drive.

Meanwhile, a 30-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man from Oakley were arrested on suspicion of threatening a person with a blade in a public place following an incident in the town centre.

They have been bailed with conditions while our enquiries continue.

On Saturday 9 March, a man was arrested on suspicion of a drugs offence following a proactive stop on Goodman Close, Basingstoke.

Officers searched a Vauxhall Antara and found bags of suspected Class A drugs and more than £1,100 in cash.

A 22-year-old man from Hounslow was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug and acquiring / using / possessing criminal property. He has been bailed with conditions while our enquiries continue.

On Sunday 10 March, a man was arrested after officers found suspected Class A drugs and more than £400 in a car near Brighton Hill Parade.

Following a search of a Renault Clio, officers found bags of suspected Class A drugs, drug paraphernalia, more than £400 in cash and two mobile phones.

A 34-year-old man from Bracknell was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug and acquiring / using possessing criminal property.

He was also arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified and using a vehicle on a road without third party insurance. The man has been bailed with conditions while our enquiries continue.

Police Sergeant Karla Leese, from the Basingstoke Priority Crime Team, said: “Our officers have been out disrupting County Lines drug dealing in Basingstoke and Deane. This activity is a priority for my team and we do everything we can to prevent the exploitation of children and vulnerable people in the district.

“We have arrested eight people, seized more than £12,000 in cash, disrupted a number of drugs lines and taken a considerable amount of Class A and Class B drugs off the streets – so the week has been a huge success.

“Where there are drugs, there is almost always violence which is why tackling and disrupting the supply of drugs, especially through County Lines, is a vital part of our work to reduce violent crime and keep people safe.

“Please continue to tell us about any suspected drugs activity in your neighbourhood so we can safeguard children and vulnerable adults and bring offenders to justice.”

To make a report, you can contact us on 101 or make a report via our website at https://www.hampshire.police.uk/.

If you don’t want to report to the police directly, you can report to the charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

For information on spotting the signs of exploitation please visit The Children Society’s website https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work/child-criminal-exploitation-and-county-lines/spotting-signs