CONCERNS about a Salisbury teenager have led to five men from London being arrested last week during coordinated warrants in the capital.

Officers from the Dedicated Crime Team based in Melksham worked alongside officers from the Metropolitan Police to carry out the warrants on July 9.

The warrants were conducted following concerns a teenager from Salisbury was being trafficked to London to sell drugs.

Five men, aged 19, 21, 22, 24 and 43, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and holding a person in slavery or servitude. They have since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Det Con Melissa Pope said: “We’ve been working closely with the Met to conduct these warrants which led to the successful arrest of these individuals, who we believe have been involved in the trafficking of vulnerable young people with the aim of using them to sell illegal drugs.

“Drugs gangs will often recruit vulnerable people to go about their business for them – on occasion, these vulnerable people are threatened with weapons and violence in order to carry out the work.

"This will not be tolerated and we are working closely with partners to ensure the safety of our young people and enquiries into these individuals are continuing.”

Anyone who has concerns about drug dealing in their community, or believe a young person in their neighbourhood may be being exploited should call 101, or 999 in an emergency.