Five arrested as drugs, weapons and cash seized in warrant operation

Police have arrested five people and seized a large amount of drugs as part of an operation to tackle County Lines drug dealing.

A significant amount of cash and several offensive weapons were also recovered after officers executed warrants at addresses in Harrogate district and Leeds yesterday morning (Tuesday, 27 February).

North Yorkshire Police’s Organised Crime Unit worked with West Yorkshire Police during the County Lines operation.

County Lines is the term used to describe drug supply lines run by organised crime gangs from urban areas who deal drugs in more rural counties such as North Yorkshire.

The warrants were carried out to allow police to enter and search addresses and locate suspects.

A significant amount of what is believed to be a class-A drug was seized, along with a large amount of a suspected class-B drug and thousands of prescription-type drugs including tramadol and diazepam, which are controlled substances and therefore illegal to supply unauthorised.

The substances will be sent for laboratory testing as part of the investigation.

All five suspects, who are men aged between their 30s and 50s from the Harrogate, Ripon and Leeds areas, were arrested on suspicion of drug offences.

They have been released under investigation to allow for further enquiries.