WEAPONS, cash and drugs valued at hundreds of thousands of pounds were seized in a police operation targeting county lines crime last week.

The operation, which saw 107 arrests, was led by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit and took place from 7 to 13 March.

Among the drugs seized were £300,000 worth of cannabis edibles, which were made to look like sweets and were in colourful packets, and were expected to be distributed from West Yorkshire to areas across the country.

Over £150,000 worth of cannabis plants were also seized, as was over £12,000 worth of crack cocaine, over £9,000 of cocaine and over £7,000 worth of heroin.

A total of 32 mobile phones used by drug dealers were also seized, and so was nearly £193,000 in cash.

Among the weapons seized were machetes, knives, axes, batons and a crossbow.

In addition, officers visited 34 addresses where vulnerable people were being exploited by criminal gangs.

Detective Inspector Mark Catney, County Lines Coordinator for the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “The criminality connected to county lines has a direct impact on the communities of Yorkshire and the Humber.

“It leads to violence, acquisitive crime and the exploitation of vulnerable victims, many of whom are forced to do the dirty work on behalf of others.

“By continuing to target and disrupt the activities of county lines gangs, our aim is to reassure the communities we serve that we will not tolerate the actions of these criminals and will continue to take action against them.

“We are grateful for the support of, and will continue to work with, our four regional police forces, British Transport Police and other partner agencies to tackle all forms of serious and organised crime, and to safeguard the exploited and vulnerable.

“We would encourage anyone to come forward with information about the activities of these groups.”