A 16-year-old from Birmingham who had been reported as missing was among dozens of people arrested in Harrogate this year over county lines drug-dealing.
Harrogate Borough Council’s overview and scrutiny committee heard from North Yorkshire Police’s Inspector Steve Breen that around 30 people had been arrested this year - including a 16-year-old boy who had been reported missing “for some time”.
A police report said there were five ‘county lines’ operating in Harrogate, coming from Leeds, Bradford and Birmingham, but a series of arrests had stopped a gang coming in from Manchester in January and February.
Of the 30 arrests, the majority have been for drugs supply offences, with arrests for being in possession of bladed weapons and stun guns.
Despite efforts, police said the gangs continue to operate in the area and make “significant amounts of money” – up to £5,000 a day in Harrogate alone.
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