In an impactful effort to eradicate county lines drug networks, 18 individuals have been arrested by the Lincolnshire Police in a week-long operation. The operation, specifically targeted at dismantling drug-dealing circuits in the county, yielded a seizure of drugs that have an estimated worth of £25,000, including an array of weapons, counterfeit banknotes, and 4,000 cigarettes. The policing action spanned the dates of 23 to 29 June and revealed 31 addresses housing prospective victims of so-called cuckooing. Cuckooing denotes the gangs’ practice of exploiting the vulnerable by commandeering their homes for use in drug-related activities. Among the apprehended, a 22-year-old man hailing from Nottingham was formally charged with supplying drugs in Grantham and with a contemporary slavery offence. The police accentuated the crucial role of community cooperation in providing material intelligence to efficiently dismantle these networks.
This article is based on original reporting by the BBC, adapted for The Lincoln Post.
