Drug gang detectives make nearly 300 arrests in 18 months.

Staffordshire Police’s Disruption Team (South) has made 290 arrests and secured dozens of convictions since it was formed in June 2019.

The team, led by Detective Inspector Tim Boulton, focuses on disrupting criminal activity in the county and protecting those people who are being exploited by criminal organisations and individuals.

Detectives have gathered intelligence and carried out stop and searches and pre-planned operations aimed at disrupting drugs gangs.

During December the team’s work has led to further arrests and charges, and jail terms for Andrew Springall of Uttoxeter, who got five years for possession with intent to supply cocaine.

Also in November, Raymond Germaine, 31, of Northfields, Birmingham, and Daniel Hepple, aged 39, of Amington, Tamworth, were jailed for four years two months and two years for drugs offences.

Mohammed Hassan, of Bromford Road, Birmingham, was jailed for four years six months at Stafford Crown Court after pleading guilty to supplying crack cocaine in Tamworth.

Chiefs say disrupting County Lines is a vital part of their work. This is where groups of young men from urban areas move into smaller towns to distribute crack cocaine or heroin. In Staffordshire, crooks have from Birmingham, Derby, the Black Country and Liverpool to flood drugs into the county.

Gangs use vulnerable young people, often aged 14 to 24, to traffic the drugs.

In September the team worked on a week-long targeted operation where 28 arrests were made and eight people safeguarded.

Detective Inspector Tim Boulton, of Staffordshire Police, said: “We are focusing on protecting the vulnerable in our communities and dealing with offenders.

“We’re working hard to tackle this challenge by disrupting those who would deal drugs in our communities. We will arrest and charge those dealing drugs but look to safeguard the young and vulnerable who may be pressured into this type of activity.”

DI Boulton said information from the public played a crucial role in their work.

“We rely on good intelligence to plan and execute our operations as we work to limit the supply of drugs into our county and stop those who spread misery, debt and violence.”

“We’ve had a very busy year as, despite the impact of the Covid19 lockdown, drug supply and modern day slavery activity sadly continues.”