DRUGS worth £125,000, 50 phones and computers and £20,000 cash was seized and 30 arrests were made in a single week as part of a drug operation.

Police in Sussex have been cracking down on county lines drug dealers and recorded 206 disruptions against phone lines into the county in 2021 – up from 34 the previous year.

County lines refers to drug networks from large urban areas such as London which use children, young people and vulnerable adults to carry out illegal activity on their behalf.

From March 7 to 14, 30 arrests were made for suspected class A drug dealing and money laundering.

The Argus: Heroin seized during a car stop in Brighton (left) and drugs seized at a property in Ditchling Rise, Brighton (right) Heroin seized during a car stop in Brighton (left) and drugs seized at a property in Ditchling Rise, Brighton (right)

Drugs with an estimated street value of more than £125,000 and more than £20,000 cash was seized, while 38 people in Sussex were identified as vulnerable to cuckooing. This is taking over the home of a vulnerable person to establish a base for drug dealing.

Detective Chief Inspector Will Rolls said: "County line drug dealing continues to be a threat with currently 42 county lines active across Sussex.

“The force's primary concern remains the exploitation and trafficking of vulnerable adults and children and we continue to put dealers under increasing pressure.

“The number of 'deal lines', the dedicated mobile phone line to take orders from drug users, in operation in Sussex at any one time, often overlaps with adjacent force areas and fluctuates on a regular basis.”

The Argus: £1,000 cash seized during a raid at a flat in St Leonards (left), and cocaine seized from a property in St Leonards £1,000 cash seized during a raid at a flat in St Leonards (left), and cocaine seized from a property in St Leonards

Police also visited 21 schools and colleges, as well as speaking with hotel staff and taxi drivers about how to spot exploitation.

British Transport Police using an electronic knife detection arch at Brighton Station also seized a zombie knife during the week.

Detective Chief Inspector Rolls added: “These excellent results are just a snapshot of our relentless seven-day-a-week work, even during recent lockdowns, which continue every day to disrupt dealers who try to deal dangerous drugs across our communities, and we target those who use children to sell drugs or those who buy drugs from children.

"Local crime is often a direct result of major drug distribution via county lines and by working together with partners to shed a light on this often hidden crime. We are sending a clear message to drug dealers that they cannot expect to go undetected in Sussex.”