Watch as Cambridgeshire police raid homes as part of county lines crackdown
A police crackdown targeting supply networks in Cambridgeshire led to 35 individuals charged with more than 100 offences and the seizure of an estimated £55,000 worth of illegal drugs.
Officers carried out more than 30 dawn raids across Cambridge, Peterborough, Ramsey, Cambourne, Ely, Longstanton and St Ives, as well as out of county in London, Grimsby, Leicester, Newmarket, Spalding and Lincoln last month.
It followed weeks of intelligence gathering into those bringing class A drugs into Cambridgeshire and resulted in shutting down 50 active drug lines and seizing an estimated £55,000 of illegal drugs including cocaine, cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin.
Police also recovered £57,000 in cash, more than £8,000 in cryptocurrency and high-end designer watches and luxury trainers.
More than 10 weapons were seized including knives, machetes, batons, knuckle dusters and swords, reducing the threat of violence in communities.
Operation Hypernova, which was led by Cambridgeshire Constabulary, also saw 28 individuals identified and protected from further exploitation, many of whom were vulnerable young people and adults being used by criminal gangs to transport and sell drugs.
Detective Inspector Dan Miller, from the force’s intelligence and specialist crime department, said: “This operation continues to focus on those people who come into our county and exploit vulnerable people, be they drug users or vulnerable children and encourage them into selling or using drugs.
“Once again, we have significantly disrupted organised criminal networks across the county who are profiting from the exploitation of vulnerable people and the misery caused by illegal drugs.
“The arrests, subsequent charges and seizures send a clear message that we will continue to relentlessly pursue those who run and profit from county lines drug dealing in Cambridgeshire.”
Now in its third year, Operation Hypernova, is the culmination of months of intelligence and partnership working in a bid to make the county hostile towards county lines drug dealers, prevent further exploitation of young and vulnerable people and reduce serious street-based violence.
The proactive work was carried out with support from the Metropolitan Police’ Orochi Team, the Eastern Regional Specialist Operation Unit (ERSOU) and the British Transport Police to identify those individuals posing the greatest threat to the community.
Operation Hypernova, which is the biggest of its kind in the county, has resulted in a total of 149 arrests, 134 drug lines closed and 105 years in prison sentences.
Throughout the operation the team have been working closely with partners in the local authority, health and charity sector to identify and safeguard those individuals who have been exploited or cuckooed as well as vulnerable drug users to ensure they get the support they need.
If you suspect drug dealing is taking place in your area or see anything suspicious or out of place, report it. You don’t have to be certain, just concerned. Report online or call police on 101. Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers to report anonymously, or by calling 0800 555111.
