Officers in East Devon take part in regional drugs crackdown ‘Operation Scorpion’
Police officers in Rural East Devon Sector have executed a number of drugs warrants recently as part of Operation Scorpion.
This activity is part of the wider operation which is a collaboration between the police forces of the South West region - Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Devon & Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire - alongside the British Transport Police, and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU). This partnership combines resources to tackle drug supply across the region, create a virtual ‘ring of steel’ and make the South West a hostile environment for drug dealers.
Warrants authorised by magistrates were executed in Seaton, Sidmouth and Axminster and large quantities of class A and class B drugs seized. In addition, several weapons and imitation firearms were seized by police and several arrests made. Further investigations and prosecutions are ongoing.
Inspector Phil Gray, who leads the Rural East Devon Sector Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “The warrants carried out recently for Operation Scorpion would not be possible without the reports and information that we receive from our communities. Every report made to us is logged and analysed against a wider intelligence picture.
“The production and supply of Class A drugs, as well as other illegal substances, is dangerous and exploitative. Criminals profit from the misery and vulnerability of others and we will continue to disrupt at every possible opportunity.
“The analysis and intelligence work that proceeds behind the scenes is not always obvious to the wider public but be assured that every report is of importance and assists us to plan and execute these warrants.”
Inspector Gray added: “If the public report a suspicious vehicle loitering in an area, for example, this can be cross referenced against police systems and assists in building an intelligence picture. Reports about people using drugs in a certain location, for example, can help us identify communities where drugs are being supplied. This information might help us disrupt the supply very quickly and remove the suppliers from that community. Reports of unusual comings and goings at a property might indicate that someone is being exploited.“Where vulnerable people are being exploited we shall seek to get them the support they need and when one operation ends, we look to follow the trail to the source.
“Further operations will continue, more warrants will be executed and more drugs will be seized and arrests made.”
During Op Scorpion Devon & Cornwall Police seized drugs with a monetary value of £370,000, along with £20,000 in cash, tobacco and vapes with a monetary value of £500,000 and 73 people were safeguarded.
Police also made 28 arrests, seized ten weapons and disrupted County Lines drugs routes.
Anyone with information about illegal drugs activity should report it to their local police service online or via 101. Always call 999 in an emergency. Please visit www.devon-cornwall.police.uk
Alternatively you can pass information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers. They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year on 0800 555 111 or you can use their non-traceable online form. Contact will remain 100% anonymous. Always.
They will never ask for a name or contact details and the phone call or online report will never be traced. If the information supplied leads to an arrest and charge, there could be a cash reward of up to £1,000. Visit Crimestoppers here www.crimestoppers-uk.org
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