DEVON and Cornwall Police seized more than £150,000 worth of cocaine during a week of intensified activity to detect and disrupt county lines gangs.

County Lines Intensification Week saw the force make 26 arrests, seize an estimated £172,040 worth of cocaine, £3,360 worth of heroin and £36,250 worth of cannabis.

£11,000 worth of cash was also seized.

Activities included a joint operation at Torquay Railway Station, led by British Transport Polices County Lines Unit and supported by Devon & Cornwall Police.

There were 12 stop searches where BTP Police Dog Polly indicated that a person may have drugs in their possession.

There were two arrests and a small amount of cannabis was seized, along with a knife with a locking blade.

County lines is the term used to describe drug dealing where mobile phones are used to supply drugs, typically from large cities to towns and rural areas; County Lines are run by ‘Line Holders’ and the runners, often vulnerable people, deliver the drugs.

The runners are often children being exploited and may possess knives or other weapons.

Assistant Chief Constable Jim Pearce said: ‘The intelligence we receive from the public is vital in our efforts to weed out criminality and to safeguard the vulnerable.

‘There is perhaps no clearer crossover of these two purposes than in the disruption of criminal gangs intent on supplying illegal drugs into our communities and safeguarding the vulnerable people who often become involved in this pernicious trade.

‘There are few sectors of society that are more vulnerable to exploitation than children. Child criminal exploitation is when someone uses a child under 18 years old to commit crimes for them.

‘The child does not need to have met whoever is exploiting them - children can be targeted via social media platforms and gaming forums.

‘Recognising the signs of child criminal exploitation is key to stopping this. Please take some time to familiarise yourself with the signs of child criminal exploitation, and if you see it please report it to us either directly or anonymously through Crimestoppers.’