Twelve arrests have been made and a 'significant amount of heroin and cocaine' has been seized by Dorset Police in targeted raids in one week.

Officers were taking part in the latest cross-force operation aimed at tackling drug crime across the south west. 

In Dorset, huge quantities of drugs worth £4,768 were recovered, including 38 grams of heroin, three grams of crack cocaine, 259 grams of cannabis, five grams of ketamine and five ecstasy tablets.

During the week long operation, officers also seized £5,000 in cash, seven knives, two axes and 17 mobile phones it has been revealed.

READ: Latest Home Office crime figures show rise in Dorset

The cross-force initiative is known as Operation Scorpion saw a total of  £152,173 worth of drugs, and £198,088 in cash seized across the south west.

The operation took place between June 10 and June 16 and targeted gangs and addresses of suspected drugs dealers and suppliers.

It also stepped-up patrols of known hotspots and used technology to disrupt so-called county-lines activities. 

READ: Police seize 'drugs' after stopping vehicle in Weymouth

READ: Police seize drugs and cash in raid of Bridport house

Mark Callaghan, assistant chief constable of Dorset Police, said: “First of all I would like to thank the public for the information they have provided, and continue to provide, about drug related activity in their areas.

"I cannot overemphasise how important this community intelligence is to the success of operations like Scorpion. It helps us to target our resources effectively and where they are most needed.

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“This was a large operation involving both uniformed and plain clothes officers across the region to disrupt drug activity and support local communities.

“As well as recovering profits from drug related crime and bringing criminals to justice, Operation Scorpion is about safeguarding those who have been pulled into its world and removing the source of disruption and misery from our communities, and I’m proud that our officers have achieved this again in Dorset and the wider south west."

READ: Drugs and weapons seized in police raid at Bridport property

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick said: “I would like to thank everyone involved in Operation Scorpion 8 – another set of really good results for Dorset and across the wider region.

This intensified process of how we all work together to tackle drug related crime works – the results speak for themselves – putting in place an effective stop and search process, arrests being made, knives and offensive weapons confiscated, drug-money seized, significant amounts of illegal drugs seized and really importantly for me, mobile phones taken which disrupts further engagement.

“Operation Scorpion will keep on keeping on. It will be absolutely relentless in its pursuit of crime and will not stop until we make our county and the whole of the south west region #NoPlaceForDrugs.”