Norfolk and Met Police collaboration shuts down significant County Lines in the county

Norfolk Police has closed down 20 County Lines operations permanently in its biggest push to tackle Class A drug dealing in the county.

In November 2019, officers from Norfolk Police joined forces with the Metropolitan Police Service in an operation targeting the controllers of County Lines operating between London and Norfolk, and shutting them down at their source.

Operation Orochi has been led by the Metropolitan Police after they received Home Office funding – and at a briefing in London today (June 2) commissioner Cressida Dick said: "The close partnerships formed with colleagues nationally have been crucial to this success, and I am grateful to them all for the part they have played – even throughout the last 10 challenging weeks.

"Across policing the commitment to driving down violence has never wavered.”

The operation focusses on analysing the data of mobile phones used to buy and sell crack cocaine and heroin.

Officers from the team in Norfolk share intelligence with a dedicated team at the Met, who will then investigate to identify the line controller and their location.

To date, officers have permanently shut down 20 County Lines in Norfolk and a total of 25 people have been charged and remanded for drug supply offences – eight of which have already been sentenced in court.

Detective Inspector Windsor-Waite said: "As a result, we are seeing the number of County Lines operating in Norfolk falling as we have closed down high-risk lines with up to 300 customers. However, it is vital we continue to work with our partner agencies going forward to provide support for vulnerable drug users.”