Seven arrests in crackdown on serious organised crime
West Mercia Police joined forces with several others across the country
Last updated 25th Jun 2026
Seven people have been arrested in Shropshire as part of an investigation linked to modern slavery, burglary and drugs supply.
Officers carried out nine warrants today (25 June) as they continue to tackle serious and organised crime across the county and elsewhere in the country.
The investigation has been focused on the protection of vulnerable children and modern slavery and human trafficking offences, as well as drug supply in the area.
A total of six men, aged between 24 and 45, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary and theft.
Five of the men were also arrested on suspicion of human trafficking. One man was further arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs and on suspicion of possession of a firearm, and one man was also arrested on suspicion of being in possession of class A drugs.
A 23-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. All seven remain in police custody as enquiries continue.
During the operation, a quantity of drugs and criminal property was seized from the addresses.
Detective Inspector Steve Goddard from West Mercia Police’s Child Exploitation Team said:“Today’s activity was built on months of intelligence gathering and planning to secure the arrests of seven individuals who are suspected to be involved in serious and organised crime in Shropshire and beyond.
“We worked closely with Dyfed Powys, Cheshire, and Northumbria Police, who supported us on the operation in Shropshire, and whose communities have also felt the impact of organised crime.
“We do not underestimate the lasting impact these crimes have on people’s lives, and the livelihoods of those in the farming community, and want to assure you we are taking the necessary steps to rid our communities of this sort of criminality.
“We remain persistent in our efforts to dismantle organised crime groups and continue to ask the public report information to us as it is vital to the work that we do.”