Rail patrols ramp up as Devon police move to stop drugs entering local towns

Police officers in Devon and Cornwall have been carrying out patrols on trains and at local stations as part of a major operation to stop drugs being moved on the rail network.

The joint exercise, carried out with British Transport Police (BTP), aimed to disrupt county lines activity and protect vulnerable people who are often pressured into carrying drugs for organised crime groups.

READ NEXT: GWR warns Devon travellers to plan ahead as winter timetable and Christmas changes begin

During the operation, officers and drug dog Jasper carried out high-visibility patrols on trains travelling from Plymouth into South East Cornwall. 

Jasper was also placed at station entrances and ticket barriers to detect anyone carrying illegal substances as they arrived or left.

Over the course of the exercise, police patrolled eight stations, seized drugs in three separate incidents and took a knife off the streets. 

ABOVE: Drugs were successfully seized on three separate occasions (Image: D&C Police)

BTP also placed drug amnesty bins at station entrances, which led to two people disposing of illegal substances before boarding their trains.

Inspector Ned Bowie, who led the neighbourhood policing team involved, said the work sends a clear message to criminals.

“Whilst the impact of this prevention work is not something we can easily measure, its importance is undeniable,” he said.

“I am confident that this work has helped to deter and disrupt drug use and supply in our communities, showing criminals that we are taking these crimes seriously, we are being robust, and we are carrying out unpredictable activity to identify those breaking the law.”

Alongside the rail operation, officers in Liskeard, Saltash, Torpoint and Looe carried out 116 hours of extra patrols in areas where drug activity had been reported before. 

Police also visited several people believed to be at risk of county lines exploitation to make sure they were safe.

Inspector Bowie encouraged the public to report anything suspicious:

“You are the eyes and ears on the streets, the more you tell us about crime, the more action we can take to tackle it,” he said.

ABOVE: Police encouraged the public to continue reporting anything they believe to be suspicious (Image: D&C Police)

Detective Inspector Brian Buddo from BTP said the operation was part of ongoing work to stop drugs being moved through the region, and that “No area or community is immune to this criminality.”

“Our County Lines Taskforce is on the rail network every day in uniform and plain clothes to target drug supply, as well as identify and safeguard children exploited to move drugs between locations.”

The operation took place on Wednesday 26 November and formed part of Op Scorpion 13, a national initiative previously reported by The Moorlander which is aimed at tackling drug crime.

Anyone who sees a crime taking place on the railway should report it to British Transport Police online.

For non-emergencies unrelated to the rail network, reports can be made to Devon & Cornwall Police; always call 999 in an emergency.