Arrests and cash seized in police crackdown
Devon and Cornwall PoliceMore than £10,000 was seized and 18 people were arrested during a police crackdown in south-west England.
Devon & Cornwall Police took part in Operation Mille alongside police forces across England and Wales.
As well as the money seized and arrests, 370 cannabis plants were seized for destruction, 500 packets of illegal tobacco seized, two vehicles and multiple e-bikes seized and one youth was referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) which identifies victims of modern slavery or human trafficking.
Nationally, police made 249 arrests and seized 42.6kg of cocaine and £352,000 in the operation.
Det Insp Gary Matthews, of the intelligence department of Devon & Cornwall Police, said the force "has been able to play its part in disrupting the serious threat from organised crime groups".
He said: "Illegal drugs, weapons and criminal cash have been seized, and working with colleagues from UK Immigration Enforcement four people who arrived in the UK illegally and have no right to stay here have been deported.
"We have also carried out some innovative interventions, such as what we call Op Pester.
"We seized the mobile phone of a drug line holder and sent messages to the 105 contacts in the phone, his customers, signposting them to drug services and potentially creating intelligence gathering opportunities."
'Enforcement saves lives'
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: "I'm pleased to see the force's efforts to contribute to a national week of action to tackle drug dealing in our communities.
"People tell me, both in surveys by my office or in person, that they want to see more done to tackle drug dealing.
"Every effort of enforcement saves lives, disrupts criminals and is a message to many recreational users that drugs are not for fun."
