Major UK crackdown sees 13 organised crime groups dismantled, 550 arrests made, 50 weapons taken, 150 kg of drugs and £15 m in assets seized.
In 2025, Humberside Police’s Serious and Organised Crime team shut down 13 organised crime groups, made more than 550 arrests, and seized 150kg of drugs, £1.5m in criminal assets and 50 weapons and firearms. As a result of the team’s meticulous work, 189 years worth of prison sentences were imposed, and 177 ancillary orders were issued.
The drugs, weapons and firearms were recovered as a result of more than 540 targeted warrants, and in the same period, officers worked alongside partnering agencies to safeguard more than 120 adults and children at risk of exploitation linked to serious and organised crime.
A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: “Protecting our communities from Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) remains a priority within our force, with specialist teams working relentlessly to dismantle drug operations and bring down criminals who cause harm. While policing teams may be seen carrying out warrants to catch prolific offenders, there is a huge amount of intricate work which goes on behind the scenes involving some of our most specialist detectives and staff across the force.
“This work is crucial role in identifying and disrupting organised crime groups (OCGs), safeguarding people at risk, and preventing criminal networks from taking root. Although a lot of the visible activity targets drug supply, serious and organised crime goes much broader, often overlapping multiple areas of offending.
“This includes modern slavery and human trafficking, child criminal and sexual exploitation, organised acquisitive crime (such as burglary and vehicle crime), serious violence, fraud and money laundering, and cybercrime. Our SOC effort brings together several specialist teams that work around the clock to bring offenders to justice, ensure crime doesn’t pay, and prevent exploitation.
“On the ground, our Kinetic Intervention, Roads Crime, local policing and specialist covert units deliver targeted operations to disrupt criminality. Behind the scenes, the Drugs Expert Witness Team, Intelligence Teams, Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking, Child Criminal and Sexual Exploitation, Economic Crime, Asset Recovery and Safeguarding teams progress investigations, build evidence, seize criminal assets and work with partners to safeguard those at risk and bring offenders before the courts.”
But the work to remove these networks doesn’t stop at catching drug runners on the streets, the team continues to identify those who direct and fund organised crime using every available power to stop them.
The spokesperson said: “It takes a whole‑system approach to tackling criminal networks and our approach is working. From January to December 2025, the force shut down thirteen organised crime groups, saw over £295,000 in criminal cash seized, over 550 people were arrested, 189 years in prison sentences was imposed, and 177 ancillary orders were issued.
“Through over 540 targeted warrants, we recovered in excess of 150kg of class A, B, and C drugs, 50 weapons and firearms involved in organised crime were seized. In the same period, officers worked alongside partnering agencies to safeguard more than 120 adults and children at risk of exploitation linked to serious and organised crime.
“More than £1.5 million worth in criminal assets was also recovered in 2025 as part of the Proceeds of Crime Act, from a range of investigations. Proceeds of crime is the term given to money or assets gained by criminals during the course of their criminal activity, and as a police force, we have powers to seize, detain, freeze, forfeit, or confiscate these assets so that crime doesn’t pay.
“You may be thinking where this money seized by our asset recovery teams goes. Once processed as evidence, it goes straight back into fighting crime and protecting our communities, making them safer and stronger.”
Detective Superintendent Iain Pottage, force lead for Serious and Organised Crime, said: “Criminals involved in gangs and drug dealing will often use violence and intimidation as tools to further their financial gain and control in our communities. They exploit young people and vulnerable adults, often through coercion, debt and intimidation, and distance themselves from the misery and harmful reality of drug dealing on the streets.
“They have no regard for the lives of those purchasing the substances they supply. This is a business for them, where making money is the only objective, no matter the expense or misery of others.
“This will often be in the form of gangs taking over a drug user’s home to use as a base for selling and preparing drugs. This is known as cuckooing.
“Enforcement alone is not enough. We work with partners to support vulnerable people and provide reassurance and wrap‑around care to communities affected. Helping people to escape this lifestyle and protecting those at risk is absolutely vital.
“Alongside this, we are part of the multi-agency Clear Hold Build initiative with locations in Grimsby, Hull and Bridlington. This work involves clearing the areas of criminal influence using all available powers and tactics, holding that ground so other gangs can’t infiltrate, and building resilience with residents and partners so our neighbourhoods become safer, stronger and less susceptible to exploitation.
“The results we have seen over the past year are reflective of our constant efforts against who cause harm. But it doesn’t stop here, and we’re not complacent. Our work is ongoing, by continuously adapting and working with partners to protect our communities.”
The spokesperson added: “We recognise the impact these offences can have on local communities, and we are absolutely committed to investigating them thoroughly. By telling us about what’s going on in your area, you help form our investigations and create a bigger picture.
Reports are sourced from official documents, law-enforcement updates, and credible investigations.
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