Police officers arrested 17 people last week during a series of raids on county lines drug gangs.

Crack cocaine, heroin and cocaine worth around £4,500 were seized during 11 raids across the Dyfed-Powys police force area.

Officers also seized an extendable baton, ammunition magazine and £6,500 after carrying out warrants and intercepting vehicles potentially involved in the supply of drugs.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Cotterell said: “The county lines intensification week was successful for Dyfed-Powys Police, and we had a number of excellent results thanks to the proactive work of officers and police staff across the four divisions.”

During the County lines intensification week (Monday, October 11 to Sunday, October 17), 50 ‘at-risk’ or vulnerable children, young people and adults received targeted safeguarding support on a one-two-one basis and in group settings.

DCI Cotterell added: “Few people are aware of the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to support victims, or the measures we put in place to stop people from becoming repeat victims of drug-related crime.”

“It is very important to us as a force that while we act on all new intelligence to disrupt county lines, we also take a victim-oriented approach to working with those affected by these gangs to protect them from becoming repeat victims.”

In a week where more than 2,000 people were educated about County Lines, officers and partner agencies also spoke with around 50 letting agencies and estate agents about the dangers of criminality, such as County lines activity in rented properties. More than 150 businesses were also told about county lines, with an emphasis on those who provide mobile top-up services and the use of ‘burner phones’.