More than 60 people have been arrested after a huge operation in Keighley saw the dismantling of drugs linked to County Lines operating in the town and across the border in Skipton.
The operation lead by Bradford’s Precision Team, worked with the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, (YHROCU) West Yorkshire Police’s Specialist Support Group, North Yorkshire Police, and the local Keighley Neighbourhood Policing team.
Over the last four weeks 61 warrants were executed in Keighley (55) and in Skipton (6) in relation to the supply of class A drugs.
It’s after an 18 month proactive investigation into County Lines.
62 people were arrested on suspicion of drug supply offences, of those arrested 31 have been charged.
During the operation Police have recovered more than £100,000 in cash, 3kg of cannabis and crack cocaine and heroin. Also seized were a number of weapons including batons, knuckle dusters, two swords, a machete and crossbow.
Robbie Moore MP said:
“This is one of the biggest anti drug-dealing operations in recent memory and I’d like to thank our West Yorkshire Police for targeting these dealers head-on, adopting the no-nonsense approach to drug-dealing I have long fought for as Keighley’s MP.
Drug crime has painted our town in a terrible light for far too long, and ever since I was elected I have made tackling this scourge on our town one of my top priorities.
Last month, I brought the Attorney General to Keighley to meet with our police and receive an update on drug-dealing and antisocial behaviour operations across our area. This month, I brought these issues directly to our Home Secretary.
I won’t stop fighting until this issue is tackled once and for all and these criminals are brought to justice. I hope this is the first of many such operations in our town.”
