More than 200 folks have been arrested throughout a week-long crackdown on county strains gangs in London, police have revealed.
Officers additionally seized multiple million kilos price of medication, 5 weapons, and numerous swords, together with a Japanese-style katana, throughout the raids throughout the capital final week.
Alongside the arrests, 177 susceptible folks have been safeguarded by police, a number of of them kids who officers say have been being “preyed on” by the drug gangs and “used as a commodity”.
“(These) networks traffick them and subject them to modern slavery involving horrendous emotional and physical abuse,” Detective Superintendent Rick Sewart, the lead accountable officer for county strains at Scotland Yard mentioned.
“Victims are coerced by means of violence, blackmail and debt bondage, to carry and provide medicine.
“Those involved use weapons and serious violence including kidnaps to intimidate and threaten victims.”
Alongside kids, the county strains networks preyed on susceptible adults to gas Class A drug addictions, DSI Sewart added.
Read extra:
Drugs price £4.3m seized in crackdown
Inside London’s gang hotspot
“Instead of criminalising these children, officers work with Rescue and Response to ensure they are safeguarded and supported,” the drive mentioned in an announcement.
The week-long crackdown came about throughout Monday, 27 February and Sunday, March 5.
Police made a complete of 222 arrests throughout the week, leading to 105 folks being charged with a complete of 223 offences.
These embrace 150 drug trafficking prices and 131 prices referring to Class A and B medicine.
Officers additionally seized 8.3 kilograms of Class A medication, 37.6 kilograms of Class B medicine, £652,214 in money, 5 firearms and 51 weapons which included knives, machetes and swords.
Source: information.sky.com”