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In an attempt to combat drug trafficking via train, sniffer dogs spent two days at busy stations across south Wales as part of a South Wales Police and British Transport Police county lines operation.

Operation Ample was carried out on Wednesday April 24 and Thursday April 25 to tackle county lines exploitation – the name given to to drug dealing where gangs use phone lines to move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.

Across Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend and Swansea over the two days, 90 people were stopped and searched, with six people arrested, and three kilos of pills seized along with almost £10,000.

Caerphilly Observer attended the operation at Cardiff Central Station, where people were identified as potentially carrying drugs by a sniffer dog, before being taken aside by officers and searched.

In addition to pills being seized, a 22-year-old man from London was found in possession of 1.5kg of cannabis, and a 17-year-old boy from Cardiff was stopped in possession of a knife.

Detective superintendent Gareth Williams spoke to Caerphilly Observer about the operation and said: “We have a two-day operation across south Wales that involves three police forces and four local authorities.

“We have children services here, adult services, mental health teams, and alcohol and drug teams. What we’re trying to do is intervene with those that are vulnerable, that are involved in county lines.

“We know that the railway network is is critically important for the county lines business model, and within British Transport Police’s experience, we see a disproportionately high number of young children using the railway network to move Class A and Class B drugs around the country.”

DS Williams added how 40% of the people arrested in connection to county lines are under 18, and have seen people as young as 13 involved.

He continued: “County lines operate everywhere. We have an import and an export location within that business model. Most of the export locations are are major cities such as London, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Manchester to a to a lesser extent.

“But the reach of those gangs and those lines is phenomenal. We’ve made arrests in Aberdeen for children that have come from East London, and that’s quite common. So it’s operating in all communities.”

“It’s extremely harmful. So I’d urge anybody listening to to get in touch with the police and raise their concerns if they see things that they think could indicate county lines activity.”

Detective chief inspector Mike Preston, of Gwent Police, added: “Our work this week, alongside our partners, demonstrates some of the many ways we’re tackling county lines and its other associated forms of criminal activity.

“We’re dedicated to protecting those at risk from exploitation and bringing those responsible to justice.

“If you have any information about drug dealing in your community, please report it to us so we can take action.”