Almost a hundred people have been arrested across the South West after police forces joined together to target illegal drugs and child criminal exploitation (CCE). Operation Scorpion brings together the five South West police forces; Avon and Somerset Police , Dorset Police , Devon & Cornwall Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary and Wiltshire Police, alongside their respective Offices of Police and Crime Commissioners including Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), and the British Transport Police. By pooling resources, the partnership aims to disrupt drug supply and create a hostile environment for organised crime groups operating in the region. During a coordinated week of action, officers and staff worked jointly to arrest suspected dealers, seize drugs and weapons, and safeguard vulnerable people. Policing Minister Sarah Jones MP also joined officers on a warrant in Trowbridge on Wednesday 4 March to see firsthand how Wiltshire Police is tackling County Lines activity. A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and has been released on bail pending further enquiries. A range of enforcement activity was carried out across the week, including arrest and search warrants, targeted vehicle stops, and the use of drones to track suspected offenders. Vulnerable individuals were also identified and given details of support services after their numbers were found on seized phones. In Wiltshire: ❗24 people were safeguarded ❗ 26 people were arrested ❗ 52 cuckooed addresses were visited – where criminals take over someone's home to use it as a base for crime 💵 £380,000 worth of drugs seized 💵 £22,500 in cash seized 🗡️ 10 weapons seized – including six imitation firearms. Last week’s Operation Scorpion, which ran alongside the national County Lines Intensification Week, was coordinated by Wiltshire Police. This phase of the operation focused particularly on Class A drugs and their links to missing people and children. Officers visited schools to deliver inputs on County Lines and Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE), highlighting what exploitation looks like and where to seek help and support. In Wiltshire, officers and staff delivered 22 talks in education settings, speaking to nearly a thousand students about the risks and warning signs. Teams also worked with Police Cadets as part of Hotel Watch, helping to raise awareness among hotel staff of how to spot signs of exploitation, including child sexual exploitation (CSE), modern slavery, other criminal activity, and the actions to take if they suspect something is happening on their premises. Of the 26 hotels visited, 11 failed the checks. Wiltshire Police also worked with schools to test vapes. Of the 32 tested, two were found to contain THC and Spice. A coordinated awareness campaign ran across social media, with targeted TikTok and Snapchat adverts designed to reach young people where they spend much of their time - online.