The Metropolitan Police marked closing their 1000th drug line, where criminals use phone lines to move and sell drugs across London, in an early morning warrant in Hendon today (Wednesday, 5 June).
This is part of a specialist operation to tackle drug trafficking across London which to date, has meant 736 people have been arrested, who will now serve a total of over 895 years behind bars.
The operation, known as Yamata, was established in 2022 to combat drug dealing across the capital. Specialist officers use innovative data techniques to tackle drug lines that facilitate and fuel the selling of significant amounts of Class A drugs.
Officers undertake intelligence led investigations to follow these drug lines to track down the main suppliers and arrest them with the assistance of local officers who have expert knowledge of their neighbourhoods.
This data-led approach ensures the Met’s operations are focused on the most prolific and dangerous individuals, making neighbourhoods safe from the unpredictable violence and devastation the drugs trade causes.
Detective Chief Superintendent Ella Marriott, who led the operation, said: “Drug lines have a devastating impact on local communities, with often highly violent individuals exploiting others to flood our streets with drugs.
“Recognising the links between drugs, exploitation and anti-social and violent crime, the Met is relentlessly focused on using precision, data-led policing to bring these unscrupulous criminals to justice.
“Operations such as Yamata are essential for taking these dangerous and often unpredictable violent criminals off our streets, delivering a safer London.”
As a result of the warrant in Hendon this morning, one man was arrested on suspicion with intent to supply Class A drugs. He was found with crystal meth, and a meth production facility in his kitchen.
The Met is focusing on community policing, ensuring that it tackles the crimes that are of most concern to residents. Across the capital, Londoners regularly say they are worried about drug dealing in their streets, and the assoc