Yahoo News Dawn raids on nine homes to stop gangs exploiting children
Police carried out dawn raids on nine homes across Staffordshire in a major crackdown on child exploitation. Officers made six arrests after smashing their way inside the addresses this morning (November 14).
Following searches, weapons, mobile phones, scales, cannabis and cocaine were seized. The busts followed an investigation by Staffordshire Police's child exploitation team to stop serious and organised crime gangs who use forced labour of children and traffic humans to sell drugs.
Those detained were:
READ MORE: 'Outrageous' perv told stranger he could do magic trick - then grabbed her breast
READ MORE: Gun and drug arrests as police smash way inside Stoke-on-Trent house
A 17-year-old boy, from the Stoke-on-Trent area, arrested on suspicion of conspiring to supply a class A controlled drug.
A 16-year-old boy, from Stafford, held on suspicion of conspiring to supply a class A controlled drug, and conspiring to supply a class B controlled drug.
A 39-year-old woman, from Stafford, arrested on suspicion of conspiring to produce a controlled drug of class B, conspiring to supply a class A controlled drug, and requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.
A 22-year-old man, from Stafford, held on suspicion of arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, conspiring to supply a class A controlled drug, conspiring to supply a controlled drug of class B, possessing a controlled drug of class A, possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class B, and requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.
A 21-year-old, from Stafford, detained on suspicion of committing an offence other than kidnapping or false imprisonment with intent to commit human trafficking, conspiring to supply a class A controlled drug, conspiring to supply a class B controlled drug, possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A, possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class B, and requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.
A 23-year-old man, from Burton-on-Trent, held on suspicion of arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, conspiring to supply a class A controlled drug, conspiring to supply a class B controlled drug, possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A, and possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class B.
They will be questioned in custody.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "Six people have been arrested on suspicion of drug, human trafficking and forced labour offences after we searched nine properties today. Officers forced entry to addresses in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Burton-on-Trent, Dudley and Bilston this morning.
"We are continuing to target those engaged in serious and organised crime across Staffordshire as part of our Operation Target commitment. Since it was launched in May last year, we’ve arrested more than 1,000 people suspected of drug and firearm offences, alongside ongoing enforcement against the groups responsible for high-harm crimes in our communities."
