TWO Bradford teenagers have been arrested following a week of focus on tackling county lines drugs operations.

The 19-year-olds were arrested in Girlington on suspicion of drugs offences and human trafficking, and have been released on bail.

A total of 16 arrests were made in West Yorkshire as part of the operation, with £2,500 worth of Class A drugs and more than £2,000 in cash seized.

Police spoke to 113 vulnerable children and 29 adults, and five were referred to the National Referral Mechanism, a framework for identifying victims of human trafficking and ensuring they receive the appropriate protection and support.

The Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit were also involved in the operation, and across the region more than £25,000 worth of Class A drugs, almost £50,000 in cash and 15 mobile phones were seized.

Police arrested 69 people, identified 123 vulnerable people and engaged directly with 226 vulnerable people, and referred six to the National Referral Mechanism.

As part of the campaign, West Yorkshire Police released a series of cryptic messages starring police dogs to try and raise awareness of the problem.

Detective Chief Inspector Fiona Gaffney, who leads West Yorkshire Police’s response to county lines crime, said: “County lines crime can involve lots of different crime types – particularly drug dealing and human trafficking - and often sees ‘hardened’ criminals using children or vulnerable adults to do their dirty work.

“These hardened criminals will often look to groom their victims – so they start of being a child’s best friend – offering them designer trainers or other such luxuries – and then gradually groom them into a life of drug dealing.

“This is what this campaign set out to show – how everything seems so nice and easy to start with but that victims are lured in to a life from which it is difficult to escape.

“Through Programme Precision – which sees the Force and partners working together to tackle serious and organised crime – we are doing all we can to tackle county lines crime.

“But by knowing the key signs to look out for you can help to protest yourself and / or loves ones who may be vulnerable to being exploited in this way – before it is too late."