A WEEK of focused action against drug‑dealing activity has led to the disruption of multiple County Lines gangs, the seizure of significant quantities of drugs and cash, and numerous arrests across Essex.
Across the week, our dedicated enforcement teams made 24 arrests, seizing 1.5kg of cocaine and more than 50g of crack cocaine and heroin.City & Local Guides
Hundreds of individual deal-sized wraps of Class A drugs were also removed from the streets.
We seized more than £108,000 in cash, alongside high‑value clothing and vehicles believed to be funded by criminal activity.
Teams working under Operation Raptor and Operation Orochi pursue those involved in County Lines activity relentlessly throughout the year.
Last week provided an opportunity to highlight the breadth of this work.
Over seven days, officers carried out warrants, proactive vehicle stops, investigations and targeted patrols.
They also worked with partner agencies to protect vulnerable people and support those at risk of exploitation.
Across Southend, Basildon, Tendring, Chelmsford, Brentwood, Braintree, Epping and Saffron Walden, suspects linked to active drug lines were arrested and charged.
In several cases, line phones used to run drug networks were recovered.Autos & Vehicles
In Saffron Walden, a proactive vehicle stop resulted in the seizure of cannabis, cocaine and around £15,000 in cash following a pursuit.
In Basildon, patrolling officers disrupted another line after stopping a key suspect on an e‑bike, leading to searches that uncovered more than 55 wraps of cocaine, cannabis and over £1,500 in cash.
Other activity included the recovery of hundreds of cannabis plants in Chelmsford and the seizure of a large block of cocaine from a vehicle in Basildon.
More than £100,000 in cash and multiple high‑value vehicles were seized in a single warrant at an address in Brentwood.
Our reach extended into London, where officers worked with the Metropolitan Police to execute a warrant at the home of a suspected drug line leader supplying cocaine, MDMA and ketamine in Epping.
An arrest was made, charges were secured, and a suspected line phone, £3,000 in cash, and high‑value clothing were seized.
Over the course of the week, numerous suspects were charged and remanded to await trial for offences including possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, being concerned in the supply of controlled substances, possession of criminal property and dangerous driving.
Alongside enforcement, officers carried out extensive safeguarding work across the county.
Visits were made to children’s care placements, supported by local authority safeguarding teams, to raise awareness of child criminal exploitation and promote the Children’s Society’s Look Closer campaign.
Staff at more than a dozen placements completed safeguarding questionnaires, with findings feeding into multi‑agency review meetings.
Officers also visited gyms across Essex to share information on exploitation risks and distribute training materials.
Further visits were made to young people believed to be at risk of County Lines involvement, with referrals made where appropriate.
So far in 2026, our specialist teams have:
Made 58 arrests
Charged and remanded 40 suspects
Dismantled 37 drug lines
Seized more than 23kg of drugs
Recovered 19 weapons
Safeguarded 21 vulnerable people
Prepared 38 evidence packages for enforcement
Seized 30 drug line phones
Detective Superintendent Neal Miller, head of our Serious Violence Unit, said:
“County Lines activity is an area of constant focus for us. It brings with it violence, harm to vulnerable people, including children, and real danger through the supply of very dangerous substances.
“We’re fighting back – making dozens of arrests already this year and securing long prison sentences for those involved at every level of the supply chain.
“Because of our relentless activity, drug dealers know they aren’t free to operate in Essex. They know, and fear, that there will be a day we come knocking – and rightly so.
“As this week shows, we are steadily building intelligence against those involved in this awful trade in Class A drugs.
“We are also more focused than ever on what we can do beyond enforcement to ensure children and vulnerable adults cannot be lured, coerced or forced into working for those running the drug lines.”
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