County Lines arrests in Powys
Police in Montgomeryshire have warned they will continue to stamp out drug dealing after a series of arrests have been made as part of County Lines.
Warrants have been carried out in Montgomery, Newtown, and other areas of Powys.
They are part of Operation Regent, the title given to a long and complex investigation targeting County Lines groups who are effectively drug suppliers who travel to Powys from elsewhere in the UK and set up business with local drug dealers to sell heroin and crack cocaine.
Powys Chief Inspector Matt Scrase is leading the operation, and he said: “We know there is a problem with Organised Crime Groups from elsewhere in the UK travelling to our communities to supply Class A drugs in Powys.
"Our action to disrupt supply should clearly demonstrate to travelling criminals that this will not be tolerated in Powys.
"We may be a rural community but we are a community that works closely with our residents and partners to gather information and respond to their concerns.
“It’s a complex scenario as some of our suspects are potentially also victims.
"They may be dependent on drugs, they may be vulnerable, and therefore a key part of our strategy to combat the problem we are facing is to work closely in partnership to offer support and advice to those people to help them turn their lives around, if they are willing to take the help on offer."
David Peter Robert Brown, 34, of Little Weston, Montgomery, and Danielle Edith Wye, 28, of Pine Court, Newtown have appeared in Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court, charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
Along with others from across Powys they have been remanded in custody.
The County Lines groups use a local property, generally belonging to a vulnerable person, sometimes drug users, as a base for their activities.
This is known as 'cuckooing' and will often happen by force or coercion.
Chief Inspector Scrase added: "This activity has been having very little impact on the majority of the local communities who are unaware of the problem.
"Those who have been affected are being updated on activity as warrants are carried out.
"So while we don’t wish to alarm residents, we need to make sure they understand that they may see heightened police activity over the coming weeks and this is the reason why.
"I’d like to ask for their patience and understanding during this time and if they have concerns at all please call us on 101 or approach an officer."
