The local MP has been on the frontline of the latest counter drugs operation in Andover.

Kit Malthouse, who is also the Minister for Policing, joined officers from Hampshire Constabulary and British Transport Police as part of a stop and search at Andover station and on trains between the station and Basingstoke.

Class A drugs were seized by police, assisted by a drugs dog, during the operation last Friday (September 18), leading to the arrests of three suspected drug dealers.

A phone was also confiscated from the suspects as part of the operation, and officers are investigating it for contacts and leads which could lead to further arrests in future.

Malthouse, the MP for North West Hampshire, said: “Thank you Hampshire Police and BTP for successfully taking yet more drugs off our streets in Andover.

“We’re cracking down on the horrific 'county lines' crime, where gangs use children and vulnerable people to transport drugs on train routes across the UK.

"These criminals cause devastation and misery through peddling drugs into communities like Andover and Basingstoke.

"The government has set aside £25 million to help police carry out operations without warning and make more arrests and seizures. We’re now seeing the results, and as policing minister I will back them all the way."

The local MP has been on the frontline of the latest counter drugs operation in Andover. 
Kit Malthouse, who is also the Minister for Policing, joined officers from Hampshire Constabulary and British Transport Police(BTP) as part of a stop and search at Andover station and on trains between the station and Basingstoke.
Class A drugs were seized by police, assisted by a drugs dog, during the operation last Friday (September 18), leading to the arrests of three suspected drug dealers. 
A phone was also confiscated from the suspects as part of the operation, and officers are investigating it for contacts and leads which could lead to further arrests in future. 
Malthouse, the MP for North West Hampshire, said: “Thank you Hampshire Police and BTP for successfully taking yet more drugs off our streets in Andover. 
“We’re cracking down on the horrific ‘county lines’ crime, where gangs use children and vulnerable people to transport drugs on train routes across the UK. 
“These criminals cause devastation and misery through peddling drugs into communities like Andover and Basingstoke. 
“The government has set aside £25 million to help police carry out operations without warning and make more arrests and seizures. We’re now seeing the results, and as policing minister I will back them all the way.”
Malthouse was visiting BTP’s County Lines Taskforce, which states that its main aims “are to tackle drugs on the railway network, and to protect children and vulnerable adults who are often exploited by gangs into selling or moving drugs.”
So far, it has made nearly 640 arrests, 329 seizures of drugs, 110 weapons seizures and £241,000 in cash seizures, while 34 vulnerable people have been referred to the National Referral Mechanism for safeguarding to date.
BTP’s Taskforce lead, Detective Superintendent Gareth Williams said: “Our Taskforce is in a unique position, we operate nationally and target County Lines activity across the railway network. 
“Our experience has proven that gangs who use the railway network rely on younger people to move drugs. These individuals are victims, forced through exploitation or intimidation into desperate situations, and it’s always our priority to make support available that can get them out of harm and away from crime. Since December, we’ve been carrying out operations daily."