Major Police Crackdown Hits London and Surrounding Counties
In a huge cross-force blitz, proactive units from the Met, Essex, Sussex, Surrey, and Thames Valley police joined forces to slam the brakes on drug dealers and high-harm criminals. The operation, codenamed Operation Pandilla, targeted county lines and violent offenders over five days in late February.
ANPR and Armed Stop-And-Searches Smash Criminal Networks
From Tuesday 23rd to the early hours of Saturday 27th February, officers deployed ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) tech along key motorways and A roads linking London to regional areas. The aim: to intercept vehicles linked to drugs and violent crime, the Met’s top priority.
More than 100 officers, led by the Violent Crime Task Force, took part across five counties, hunting down suspects and cracking down on dangerous activity.
Staggering Haul: Drugs, Weapons, and Arrests
- 18 offenders referred to DIVERT, a programme to reduce reoffending
- 49 knives and weapons pulled from the streets of London
- 27 vehicles seized targeting county lines transport
- 78 drug seizures across multiple incidents
- 154 arrests for offences including possession of offensive weapons and intent to supply Class A drugs
- 62 Fixed Penalty Notices issued for COVID-19 regulation breaches
One man was caught with 250 wraps of suspected Class A drugs, while another was stopped with a large hunting knife tucked into his trousers. In a dramatic pick-up on Queens Road, E13, officers arrested a driver carrying Class B drugs and later found Class A substances hidden on his person. A raid on his home uncovered £25,000 in cash, large quantities of cannabis, bricks of Class A drugs and three bladed weapons.
Violent Crime Task Force Speaks Out
Acting Inspector Pete Luciano, Violent Crime Task Force, said: “Drugs and violence devastate lives and destroy communities. Operations like this are vital to making our streets safer.”
“Since the pandemic, criminals have increasingly used vehicles to move their illegal goods. We’ve adapted – and we won’t stop until London is safe for all.”
“Last year saw a 26% drop in violence in London, but we’re not resting. Drugs and violence are a problem beyond the capital. We must continue working together, sharing intelligence to dismantle these networks.”
“The link between drugs and violent crime is clear. We’re committed to working with partners to take weapons and drugs off the streets, arrest criminals, and shield the vulnerable.”
Get Involved – Help Stop Knife Crime
If you have info about knife crime, contact the police or 123.
