Leicestershire Police have dismantled a 'County lines' base in Coalville.

The drugs operation stretched across the East Midlands and further afield.

During County Lines Intensification week, 30 warrants were executed including four across in South Leicester, Leicester, Derbyshire and London which led to the dismantling of a line that was operating in Coalville.

Four people were arrested earlier this month, with three were subsequently charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and remanded to prison.

They were:

• Christian Mudianga, 33, of Heathcott Road, Leicester  
• Jean Paul Ekombolo, 25, of Mast Street, Barking  
• Miguel Figueiredo-Mendes, 25, of Orange Grove, Chigwell 

Inspector Wayne Nimblette, Commander of North West Leicestershire Neighbourhood Policing Area, said: "I'm really grateful that we were able to work with The Met and Derbyshire Police to secure these warrants. 

"Drug dealing blights neighbourhoods and can lead to an increase in violence and anti-social behaviour as well as an increase in acquisitive crime which often funds drug habits. 

"There is support in place for drug users in the local area to help them kick the habit through Turning Point the alcohol and drug support service."  

During the national week of action, which ran from Monday 3 October to Sunday 9 October, officers also;

• Arrested 52 people
• Executed 30 search warrants
• Safeguarded 43 vulnerable children/adults
• Presented a county lines online workshop to 6,834 children and 337 professionals who work with young people
• Ran 2 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) operations stopping 20 vehicles and arresting 6 people
• Seized £16,000 in cash
• Visited 10 people known to the police to carry knives
• Recovered significant quantities of drugs including 346 wraps of Crack, a further £12,000 of Crack and 258 Cannabis plants
• 10 weapons were recovered including a cross bow, a machete and a samurai sword

County lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal groups from cities exploit young people from smaller towns and rural areas into moving and supplying drugs.

The 'county line' is the mobile phone line used to take the orders of drugs. 

Police say this can have significant consequences for communities and vulnerable people whilst also increasing crime and anti-social behaviour in the area

One stop check during the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) operation led to two men being arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. Following further intelligence work, a phone was seized effectively shutting down a line in Loughborough.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski from the Force Intelligence Bureau said: "To execute 30 search warrants across the force area when we have had so many competing demands recently is testament to the dedication, hard work and professionalism of our staff and officers across many teams and partner organisations.

"The force has faced unprecedented demands on its resources from the patrols in East Leicester following the recent disorder; the football match between Leicester City Football Club and Nottingham Forest; the beginning of the Diwali celebrations and a large fire at a nightclub in Leicester but despite that the planning, coordination and enforcement continued and was delivered.

"County Lines Intensification Week is over but our work is not. We will continue to listen to our communities, gather intelligence, protect and safeguard the vulnerable and bring offenders to justice. My thanks go to everyone involved in making Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland a safer place to live." 

To find out more about county lines, click HERE.