More than 100 officers have taken part in what is thought to be one of the largest anti-drugs operations ever in Herefordshire.

Police visited 25 properties on Wednesday May 25th and the early hours of May 26th across the county, including Ross in an attempt to disrupt the Class A drugs trade in the county.

The properties were targeted because of intelligence to suggest that drug dealers from the West Midlands are travelling to the county to target local dealers and addicts.

West Mercia Police has been liaising with and supported by colleagues at West Midlands Police and British Transport Police

Eighteen people, including four females, were arrested. Most of those arrested (including the women) were detained for drugs offences. One man was arrested for burglary and another man was arrested for a failing to appear warrant. One man was arrested for a firearms offence.

Drugs including crack cocaine, cannabis and heroin, with an approximate street value of £5,000, were seized, along with several thousand pounds in cash. A firearm (believed to be de-activated) was also seized by police, along with other offensive weapons.

Nine people have been released on police bail pending further enquiries following yesterday's operation and nine have been charged with drugs offences.

The 'strike day' was the culmination of Operation Wingspan, a three-week operation that has already seen 28 searches take place in the county. Fifteen people were arrested in the earlier phase of the operation and nine of those men have already been charged with drug dealing offences and appeared at court. Five of those charged are presently remanded in custody. Eight of the nine men have Birmingham addresses, one is local to Herefordshire.

Detective Inspector Martyn Barnes of Herefordshire CID led the operation. He said: "Herefordshire does not have a particular problem with drug dealing, but like many other areas close to the West Midlands, we have a long-standing issue of organised crime groups sending drug runners to deal in our area.

"They are feeding the habits of local addicts who are very often responsible for lower-level crime in Herefordshire. So, if you have had someone burgle your house, or smash the window of your car to steal your Satnav or break into your shed or garage, then this drugs trade is probably responsible.

"We want to send out two messages: we are telling these dealers that they are not welcome here and we will do all we can to disrupt their activities and we are also telling local addicts who commit crime that we will target them for as long as they target the property of Herefordshire residents – you cannot commit crime with impunity.

Det Insp Barnes added: "I also want to reassure victims of this kind of offending that we do care about crimes and will target the tiny minority involved in any way we can."