Southend cocaine supply line shutdown, handgun seized & arrests made in major police operation

A ‘county lines’ drug operation responsible for bringing crack cocaine and heroin into Southend has been dismantled, following a major police operation involving teams across Essex, Bedfordshire and the wider eastern region.

Seven people have been arrested and a viable firearm recovered after officers raided multiple properties linked to the so-called ‘Mali’ drug line – a criminal network accused of fuelling violence and exploiting vulnerable people across South Essex.

The drug line, which was orchestrating the movement of Class A drugs from Luton into Southend, had been under investigation due to its suspected involvement in street-level dealing, violent incidents, and a sinister practice known as ‘cuckooing’ – where dealers take over the homes of vulnerable residents to sell drugs.

On the morning of Thursday 1 May, officers executed six warrants at various addresses in Luton. The coordinated action was carried out by Essex Police’s Serious Violence Unit with support from the Serious Crime Directorate, Operational Support Group, Bedfordshire Police and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU).

During the searches, officers seized a loaded handgun with six rounds of 9mm ammunition, more than £24,000 in cash, and other evidence that is believed to be linked to the supply of drugs.

A total of seven males were arrested: five men aged 44, 26, 21, 19 and 18, as well as two teenage boys aged 17 and 16. All the suspects are from Bedfordshire and were taken into custody for questioning on suspicion of offences related to drug supply.

Temporary Detective Inspector Rob Maile, from Essex Police’s Operation Raptor team – a unit dedicated to tackling drug-related crime – said:

“This is a complex and ongoing investigation aimed at disrupting a county line which has caused significant issues in Southend.

“We’ve had a proactive and busy month in targeting the drug trade behind the vast majority of incidents of violence we see in south Essex.”

County lines drug operations often rely on young or vulnerable people to transport and sell drugs, making them particularly exploitative. The Mali line had been operating under the radar for some time, but increased intelligence and coordinated efforts between police forces led to the breakthrough.

The arrests mark a significant step in Essex Police’s continued crackdown on drug supply networks operating across county borders.