A Motherwell man has been charged after a huge cannabis haul worth £6.1 million was seized in a County Lines operation. Craig Tomlinson was charged with the supply of Class B drugs after British Transport cops targeted key stations across Manchester earlier this month.
The 50-year-old appeared before Carlisle Magistrates on Thursday, November 13. He was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Manchester Crown Court on December 12.
A quarter of a ton of cannabis was retrieved from a Manchester address. The multi agency operation, dubbed Op Blume, was led by British Transport Police specialist County Lines task force supported by GMP and City of London Police dog section.
Officers were deployed from BTP’s dog section, Neighbourhood Policing Team, and Operational Support Unit while plain clothed police and knife arches were also integral to the operation.
Nine people were arrested and 45 stop searches conducted over the two days with three addresses searched in Manchester, Rochdale and West Mercia. A knife and £30k in cash were also seized while two children were identified and referred to safeguarding services.
BTP Detective Superintendent Craig Payne said: “This was a hugely successful operation which once again demonstrates the effectiveness of our specialist County Lines taskforce is dismantling and disrupting criminal networks and protecting young and vulnerable people from harm.
“Our dedicated team works across the whole rail network every day tackling this exploitative activity and is pivotal in intercepting the supply of drugs and making safeguarding interventions to protect vulnerable people from ruthless gangs.”
Xiaowu Chen, 56, from Manchester, was also charged with being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs. A 17-year-old from West Mercia was also charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and possession of criminal property.
County Lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas within the UK, using dedicated. mobile phone lines or other form of ‘deal line’.
Det. Supt Craig Payne added: “Robust operations like this take place across the rail network every day to disrupt County Lines. Sometimes you’ll spot us, sometimes you won’t.
“Our mission remains to dismantle and disrupt criminal enterprises and to identify and safeguard those who are being exploited and relentlessly pursue those who have targeted them.
“We will not waver in our determination to stop the exploitation and associated harm caused by county lines gangs, making our communities and railways safer.
“We urge anyone using the rail network to report any concerns to us through our discreet text number 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 and to be aware that victims of exploitation may not always be obvious nor aware they are indeed victims.”
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