ARRESTS were made and drugs recovered as part of a County Lines operation in Mold.

Inspector Darren Whibberley, of the South Flintshire policing team, confirmed the force has been watching an address in Mold where they believed a vulnerable person had been 'cuckooed'.

County Lines is the supply of drugs to rural areas from larger cities such as Liverpool and 'cuckooing' refers to when drug dealers take over the address of a vulnerable person to be used in the supply of drugs.

The Inspector told the Leader: "There's an address in Mold that officers have been watching some time where we suspected a vulnerable person and address has been cuckooed by drug dealers from Liverpool.

"Last week a 17-year-old male was stopped and searched when seen leaving the address and was found with a large quantity of class A drugs and cash. This led to further arrests being made in this house.

"Investigations commenced into the supply of drugs and the young male, who is from Merseyside, is also being considered as a victim of criminal exploitation and actions were taken to safe guard him.

"This demonstrates the complexity of County Lines operations run by organised crime gangs with young people recruited and often forced into the supply of drugs. Some of these people are victims as well."

Anyone with information or concerns can contact North Wales Police on 101 or via the live webchat form.