A total of 16 suspected drug dealers were arrested in police raids across North Surrey yesterday (November 7).

About 200 officers were involved in the 19 raids in Walton, Cobham, Addlestone, Sunbury, Stanwell, Chertsey, London and Evesham - in an operation which was the result of months of planning.

Police said "large quantities" of drugs were seized along with an illegal Taser gun, two cars, mobile phones and cash.

North Surrey divisional commander Jerry Westerman said: “The message to drug dealers is clear: we are after you, and if you peddle drugs in the South East you will be arrested.

“We won’t tolerate this kind of criminality. Nobody wants drug dealing in their community as it often brings with it associated crime such as theft and anti-social behaviour.”

Sometimes referred to as “County Lines”, drug dealers form networks across county borders, often exploiting vulnerable people like addicts or vulnerable women, coercing them to either help sell drugs or provide them with a base from which to do so, known as “cuckooing,” say police.

Detective chief superintendent Paul Barton, who chairs the regional drugs threat group across the South East, said: “These organised crime groups operate without boundaries. Therefore, it is important that the police operate in the same way working together in the South East region to bring these groups to justice and protect our communities from drug crime.”

Surrey Police asks that anyone with information about suspected drug dealing or vulnerable people being exploited contacts them on 101 or at surrey.police.uk, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.