Operation Scorpion crackdown safeguards children and targets drug crime across South West

A week-long crackdown on drug-related crime across the South West has resulted in 95 arrests, the safeguarding of 107 individuals, including 32 children, and the seizure of significant quantities of drugs and cash. Dubbed Operation Scorpion, the initiative is a collaboration between the five South West police forces, British Transport Police (BTP), and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU).

In Devon and Cornwall, the operation yielded 26 arrests, the safeguarding of 48 people (including 19 children), and the seizure of over £10,000 in cash alongside 6kg of cannabis and 2kg of cocaine.

Across the region, the operation saw:

• £47,863 in cash seized

• 37kg of cannabis and 564 cannabis plants confiscated

• 3.7kg of cocaine removed from circulation

• The safeguarding of 107 vulnerable individuals

This enforcement effort ran alongside the National County Lines Intensification Week, targeting criminal gangs that exploit children and vulnerable adults to distribute drugs. The combined initiatives aim to dismantle organised crime networks and disrupt County Lines operations, which use vulnerable individuals as “runners” to transport and sell drugs.

A key priority of the operation was addressing Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE), where gangs groom and manipulate young people to carry out illegal activities. To tackle this, police partnered with community organisations to deliver school talks, host educational events, and conduct "cuckooing" checks on homes potentially taken over by criminals.

Assistant Chief Constable Jim Pearce of Devon & Cornwall Police said: “Recognising the signs of child criminal exploitation is key to stopping this. Please take some time to familiarise yourself with these signs, and if you see it, report it either directly to us or anonymously through Crimestoppers.”

Highlights of the operation included:

• Devon & Cornwall Police conducted safeguarding visits to 30 adults and 19 youths and engaged with 45 adults and six youths to provide advice on preventing exploitation.

• Drug seizures included cocaine worth £172,040, cannabis valued at £36,250, and heroin worth £3,360.

• Officers visited 28 addresses for "cuckooing" checks and attended 16 locations linked to drug parcel deliveries.

• Weapons confiscated included an imitation firearm, two knives, and an extendable baton.

At Torquay Railway Station, a joint operation led by the BTP’s County Lines Unit resulted in 12 stop searches, two arrests, and the seizure of a knife and cannabis. BTP Police Dog Polly assisted in identifying individuals potentially in possession of drugs.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly, praised the operation: “Drug dealing and misuse is consistently one of our communities’ most significant concerns. I am proud of our collaborative efforts to protect vulnerable people and prosecute those who exploit them.”

Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Catherine Roper commented: “Operation Scorpion sends an unequivocal message to drug dealers that the South West is no place for drugs. We are committed to disrupting the illegal drug trade while safeguarding vulnerable individuals.”

The national County Lines Intensification Week saw:

• 1,660 arrests across the UK

• 557 weapons seized

• £1.98 million in cash confiscated

• 1,400 vulnerable people safeguarded

Parents, guardians, and community members are urged to recognise the signs of exploitation and report suspicious activity. Resources such as the Children’s Society’s #LookCloser campaign offer guidance on identifying and addressing child criminal exploitation.

For more information, visit the Devon & Cornwall Police website or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.