Officers arrested five people, seized more than £2,000 in cash and disrupted various drugs lines during County Lines Intensification Week in Winchester.

The week of intensification, which ran from Monday 4 March until Sunday 10 March, saw officers focus their efforts on County Lines.

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

They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store the drugs and money, and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence and weapons.

On Monday 4 March, officers stopped a vehicle at junction 11 of the M3.

A man was detained. During searches, officers found a phone, a quantity of cash and wraps of drugs suspected to be cocaine.

Afrim Bardhoshi, 47, of Waters Drive, Staines, was charged with possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A.

He appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 6 March and is next due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on Friday 5 April.

On Thursday 7 March, officers on patrol in Winchester city centre arrested a man after noticing some suspicious activity near the entrance to Winnall Moors.

Following a brief pursuit, a man was detained.

Wraps of suspected Class A drugs and cash were sized.

The 21-year-old man from Winchester was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A. He was released from police custody but remains under investigation.

On the same day, officers stopped a car in Cross Road, Winchester. Suspected Class A drugs were found in the vehicle and the driver and the passenger were arrested.

Nicolae-Gabriel Vlad, 31, of St Clement Street, Winchester, was charged with possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A and being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Vlad Marcut, 33, of Wilton Crescent, Southampton, was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Both appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court on Saturday 9 March and are next due to appear at Southampton Crown Court on Friday 12 April.

On Sunday 10 March, officers patrolling Sutton Scotney spotted a vehicle, and during a short pursuit, followed it to The Gratton Recreational Ground off Stockbridge Road.

A wallet containing around £700 in cash was found in the car, and, with the aid of a police dog handler, a man was found in a nearby bush. Wraps of suspected Class A drugs were also found.

A 23-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. He has been released on police bail, with conditions, until Monday 10 June, pending further enquiries.

Inspector Matt Kirby, from the Winchester district, said: “Our officers were busy during this period making arrests and disrupting Class A drugs supply in the Winchester area.

“This work won’t stop – we are committed to do everything we can to prevent the exploitation of children and vulnerable people in the district.

“We know that violence is often associated with Class A drugs supply, which is why tackling it, especially through County Lines, is a priority for us.

“We still need help from our local communities in telling us what they know. Any information given can help us form the bigger picture and target our resources accordingly.”

To make a report, you can contact us on 101 or make a report via our website at https://www.hampshire.police.uk/.

If you don’t want to report to the police directly, you can report to the charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

For information on spotting the signs of exploitation please visit The Children Society’s website https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work/child-criminal-exploitation-and-county-lines/spotting-signs

ENDS