Officers made 20 arrests, executed three warrants, seized Class A drugs and removed weapons from the streets during County Lines Intensification Week in Hart, Rushmoor and Basingstoke.

The week of intensification, which ran from March 2 to March 8, saw officers from both districts focus their efforts on county lines.

County lines is a term used to describe organised criminal networks that move illegal drugs from larger cities into smaller towns and cities in the UK using dedicated mobile phone lines.

They are known to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store drugs and money, often using coercion, intimidation, violence and weapons.

During the intensification week, teams carried out warrants, operations, patrols and stop checks.

Highlights included:

  • A warrant at Grosvenor Road, Aldershot, uncovered a cannabis factory containing more than 300 plants, suspected Class A drugs and £1,500 in cash. Three men from Aldershot were charged with drugs offences.
  • A warrant at Coppice Square, Aldershot, resulted in the seizure of weapons, suspected Class A drugs and drugs paraphernalia. A 41-year-old woman from Aldershot was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug.
  • A 26-year-old man from Rochester, Kent, was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin following an investigation into drugs supply in Hart and Rushmoor.
  • Two men were arrested after officers found about 100 bags of suspected Class A drugs, £875 in cash and incapacitant spray during a proactive stop on Soper Grove, Basingstoke.
  • A 29-year-old man was arrested after officers found more than £1,000 in cash, suspected Class A drugs and an axe during a proactive stop on Oakridge Road, Basingstoke.

Police Sergeant Helen Wentworth, of the Hart and Rushmoor Priority Crime Team, said: “County Lines Intensification Week is a priority for our team, and we do everything we can to prevent the exploitation of children and vulnerable people in the district.

“Throughout the week, we disrupted county lines, carried out two warrants, safeguarded vulnerable people and took a considerable number of drugs and weapons off the streets.”

Acting Police Sergeant Robyn Gaimster, of the Basingstoke Priority Crime Team, said: “We work incredibly hard to tackle and disrupt the supply of drugs, especially through county lines, within Basingstoke and the surrounding areas.

“We made arrests, disrupted drugs lines, and carried out several house visits and searches to help keep people safe in the district. Please continue to tell us about any suspected drugs activity in your neighbourhood so we can safeguard children and vulnerable adults and bring offenders to justice.”

Residents can report drug-related activity by calling 101 or via the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary website.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via its website.

For advice on spotting signs of exploitation, visit The Children’s Society website.