TWO knives have been seized following the arrests of three teenagers in relation to a County Lines operation.

On September 24 officers arrested three men aged 19, 17 and 15 at a London address on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs from London into Wiltshire.

All three are from the London area.

County lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into areas in the UK, using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of ‘deal line’. They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store the drugs and money, and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence and weapons.

Gangs based in cities like London are targeting the most vulnerable people in small towns across the country to sell class A drugs on their behalf.

During the arrests a large red handled 10-inch-long machete was discovered tucked in to one of the juveniles’ waistbands and another gold coloured knife was found in a rucksack in the property.

DC Ian Tilley said: “Following good intelligence in regard to County Lines linked to these individuals we managed to track them to London and successfully made the arrests.

“On top of that, finding these weapons is an additionally good piece of work - ensuring that there are now two more harmful knives off our streets today.”

The arrests come during Wiltshire Police’s Op Sceptre fortnight, a knife crime prevention initiative and amnesty which ran from September 16 until September 30.

During the period of the amnesty those handing in knives and weapons could do so without facing prosecution for possession of a knife or weapon and could remain anonymous.

The amnesty bins were available at six specified police stations across the county including Marlborough Police Station, and Chippenham’s Monkton Park.

If you have information about someone who carries a knife or is involved knife crimes please call Wiltshire Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Information can also be left anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.