FIVE people have been arrested after police saw what they believed was a drug deal taking place in Scarborough.

The five were arrested yesterday evening (Tuesday, July 2) suspected of a so-called 'county lines' deal.

Just after 5pm, police officers carrying out proactive patrols in the Queen Street area saw what they thought was a drug deal.

They followed the suspects to a flat nearby where they seized numerous items suspected of being used in the supply of drugs, including a large amount of cash, mobile phones and wraps of suspected class A drugs.

They also discovered a number of people at the flat who were not the rightful residents.

In total five people were arrested on suspicion of the following offences:

  • a 19-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and money laundering
  • a 17-year-old boy from London was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and obstructing the police
  • an 18-year-old woman from London and a man, 33 and a woman, 42, both from Scarborough, were all arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs

The 18-year-old and 17-year-old remain in police custody; the rest have been released while under investigation.

'County lines' is the term given to drug dealers who travel from urban areas to sell drugs in smaller county towns, often using mobile phones to advertise their drugs.

If you suspect drug dealing is taking place in your neighbourhood, call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police said that things to look out for include:

Increased callers at a property
Increase in cars pulling up for short periods of time
Different accents at a property
Increased antisocial behaviour at a property
Not seeing the resident for long periods of time
Unfamiliar vehicles at the property
Windows covered or curtains closed for long periods