POLICE have arrested seven men today following a series of early morning drugs raids connected to the supply of cannabis and cocaine.

Officers from Lancashire Constabulary’s serious and organised crime unit, assisted by Greater Manchester Police and Merseyside Police, executed search warrants at a number of addresses in Blackburn, Bolton and Formby this morning.

In Blackburn, raids were carried at premises in Whitebirk Road, Hurstwood Avenue, Kings Road, Ordinance Street and Bunkers Hill Close.

Two men from Blackburn, aged 36 and 45, were arrested on suspicion of supplying cannabis and cocaine. A 32-year-old man from Blackburn was also arrested on suspicion of producing cannabis.

The raids were carried out as part of a wider investigation, Operation Sienna, into the supply of cannabis and cocaine and the use of firearms across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

Detective Inspector Martin Kane of Lancashire Constabulary’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: “The officers on this unit are focused on targeting these groups, disrupting their activities and removing large quantities of controlled drugs from the streets of Lancashire.

“We will continue to dismantle organised gangs across the county – and beyond – so that we can make it very difficult for offenders to profit from their criminality in Lancashire.”

Anyone with information about drugs or drug dealing is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.