'Very realistic' BB gun recovered in Telford drugs raid
A 'very realistic' BB gun and drugs were found in Telford as police continue their battle against so-called 'County Lines' dealing.
Telford officers from a new unit carried out the raid at a property in the town on Monday morning as part of the fight to disrupt those who are part of the drug dealing operation.
The officers seized what they described as a realistic imitation firearm, as well as cannabis in a number of separate bags.
The raid was carried out by Shropshire police's new Local Policing Priority Team, which has been set up to tackle specific problems such as drugs, burglary, modern day slavery, and economic crime or fraud.
Police confirmed that the warrant had been executed at a property in the Wealdstone, Telford, at around 9.20am yesterday.
They said a warning will be issued for the possession of the cannabis and the weapon has been seized.
Following the raid the new unit's twitter account posted a picture of the haul, and said: "North LPPT officers conducted a successful warrant this morning in Telford. Cannabis and a very realistic looking BB gun."
Superintendent Mo Landsale praised the work of the unit and said they will continue their work to stop organised crime.
She said: “Our local policing priority team (LPPT) has now been in place for more than a month and continues to carry out fantastic work, as part of our Protect campaign, in targeting those who are causing the most harm in our communities.
Proactive
“There’s no place for serious and organised crime in our communities and in partnership with other agencies we will continue to take action and carry out proactive operations such as this.”
The raid was part of a national County Lines intensification week, which is targeting those suspected of being involved in County Lines drugs supply.
The issue of County Lines has come to the fore in recent months with a number of police operations targeting those believed to be responsible for bringing drugs into the county.
County Lines sees drug dealers from large cities looking to use vulnerable people in rural towns and villages as the conduit for the sale of drugs.
The protect campaign, which is being run by West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police, has four priorities for the way it seeks to tackle County Lines.
A spokesman said they are to "pursue – prosecute and disrupt those involved in serious organised crime", "stopping individuals from becoming involved in, increasing levels of protection, and reducing the impact of serious organised crime".
