Police have carried out drugs raids at addresses in Stevenage and Letchworth as part of an ongoing battle against county lines gangs.

The Comet: Police officers raided seven properties this morning in a bid to tackle drugs gangs. Picture courtesy of Herts police.Police officers raided seven properties this morning in a bid to tackle drugs gangs. Picture courtesy of Herts police. (Image: Archant)

At about 6.30am today, officers raided properties in Wildwood Lane, Lines Road and Hawkes Lane in Stevenage, High Avenue in Letchworth, and two properties in London’s Hackney.

Seven people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. They are a 15-year-old boy, a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man, all from Stevenage, a 19-year-old woman from East Herts and three men in their 20s from London.

They all remain in police custody at this time.

County lines is drug dealing which involves criminal networks from urban areas expanding into smaller towns and rural areas.

Detective Sergeant Jon Leak said: “We are constantly working to tackle those involved in county lines gangs and their associated drug dealing and criminality.

“These gang members do not hesitate to use violence and exploit the vulnerable, often using children to run drugs and taking over the homes of society’s most vulnerable people – known as ‘cuckooing’ – to use as a base for their drug dealing operations.

“Although Hertfordshire does not have a major problem with county lines, it is a growing national issue that we are determined to tackle through early disruption.”

Detective Inspector Graeme Walsingham, from the Stevenage Local Crime Unit, added: “We are doing everything we can to drive drug-related crime out of Stevenage.

“Drug dealing and associated criminality can have a huge detrimental effect on those living nearby.

“We will continue to carry out warrants at properties where intelligence suggests drugs activity is suspected.

“The public can assist us by reporting behaviour that seems suspicious as soon as possible.

“We are constantly gathering intelligence on drug activity in the town and your information can help us take action to protect the vulnerable and disrupt and arrest those who are supplying drugs in Stevenage.”

Anyone with information, call Herts police on 101 or report information online at herts.police.uk/report Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report online at crimestoppers-uk.org