More than 25kg of suspected monkey dust has been seized and over 30 arrests made by Staffordshire Police as part of a priority operation targeting the illegal substance across the county.

In the past six months, the priority operation, known as Operation Rivent, has seen the following take place:

• around 35 arrests mainly in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford
• approximately 52 disruptions linked to the operation, including a number of seizures
• our safeguarding work to protect around 17 women and a number of children
• around 25kg of suspected monkey dust seized as well as a number of firearms, weapons and cash

Seven of those arrested were women with one woman arrested twice on related offences.

Most of the arrests took place in Stoke-on-Trent, followed by Stafford and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Staffordshire Police said: "Since the operation became a force priority, we have received 138 intelligence reports relating to the supply of monkey dust in the county.

"Officers have also seized four vehicles and three firearms as well as knives and cash."

Superintendent Phil Bryan, who leads the operation, said: "Operation Rivent has generated positive outcomes through arrests, seizures, safeguarding and intelligence development, enhancing the understanding of local supply networks and creating further opportunities for disruption and enforcement.

"We will continue our work to disrupt supply networks, safeguarding vulnerable individuals and reducing the harm associated with monkey dust across Staffordshire throughout the remainder of 2026."

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