DRUGS were seized and arrests made as police raided homes in a countywide crack down on the supply of illegal substances in south Cumbria.

Armed with battering rams, Cumbria police officers executed searches on seven addresses – three in Kendal and four in Furness – as part of a two-day operation this week.

The busts follow a number deaths from drug abuse in the county and a rise in big city dealers flooding streets with the substances.

On Tuesday, a man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class C drugs following a raid on a house at Garth Bank, Kendal. He has since been released under investigation. Class A drugs were also recovered from a property at Collin Close in the town and inquiries continue.

On the same day, a woman was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply heroin following a search at an address on Thrum Street, Barrow, where officers seized around 50 street deals. She has since been released under investigation.

Yesterday morning, the operation continued and on Ruskin Avenue, Dalton-in-Furness, a quantity of cannabis was seized. A search of a property on Kendal's Kirkbarrow estate proved negative.

"This was a successful operation that saw officers from across the force working together in the bid to tackle drug offences," said Inspector Paul Latham of Kendal Police.

“While tackling crime is our core day-to-day business, these proactive operations allow staff to be designated to the operation in a joined up, targeted approach.

“The arrests and seizures – and even where searches are negative – send a strong message to criminals dealing on our streets. We will continue to carry out these operations alongside our everyday action to ensure the communities of Cumbria remain safe.

“We will also continue to work with partners on the prevention and rehabilitation side of drug abuse, to make sure that those we come into contact with are offered support, and signposted to agencies that can help them.

“We encourage anyone with information about the supply of drugs to contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall said: “Criminals who supply drugs are a scourge and I strongly support proactive operations such as this to target dealers in a joined up, targeted manner to protect our communities and take drugs off our streets. We must all work together to stamp this out in our county.”