MORE than 40 people have been arrested as part of a week-long crackdown on county lines activity across Staffordshire.
Officers took part in a series of enforcement efforts which also saw knives, drugs and cash seized.
Staffordshire Police said six drug lines were also brought down during the operation which was carried out as a co-ordinated crackdown alongside other forces across the country.
Detective Superintendent Victoria Downing said:
“This was one of our most successful weeks of action in Staffordshire to date. It has no doubt made our streets safer and protected people who are at risk of being exploited by serious criminal networks in our communities.
“The drug groups that run the lines often look for vulnerable people. They use them for profit by forcing them to traffic the drugs on their behalf, often threatening them or using violence as a way of making sure they can’t escape once they’re involved in criminal activity.
“Aside from taking robust action against the people responsible for organised crime, these enforcement periods are equally vital in helping us reach the people who might be targeted, allowing us to put measures in place to safeguard them.”
Police said a number of those arrested have been charged with drug supply offences, while 29 people were safeguarded.
Items seized by officers included 2.6kg of cocaine and more than £100,000 in cash.