MORE than £1million in cash has been seized from criminals in Lancashire by one highly-trained team.

The operations support unit based in East Lancashire has also seized hundreds of thousands pounds of drugs in 300 raids in properties across the county in the last 12 months.

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Yesterday officers from the team were out in force issuing a drugs warrants, attending welfare calls and patrolling high crime areas.

They were also on standby to assist with flooding.

In one raid police executed a search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act at a flat in Great Harwood town centre and found shotgun cartridges, evidence of drug use and mobile phones allegedly connecting with dealing.

In a separate incident, officers with a warrant cut their way through a reinforced front door in Accrington with a chainsaw. They then used a battering ram to bust their way in.

Once inside officers said they discovered ‘large quantities of drugs’ and arrested two men on suspicion of drug dealing.

All the evidence has now been sent off for forensic analysis, officers said.

At the same flat, a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of failing to attend court. That was in relation to allegations of shoplifting and possession of an offensive weapon, officers said.

Sgt Craig Kelshaw, who led the operation, said: “This has been an extremely successful operation but this is what we do on a daily basis.

“We work with every team in the force, as well as partner agencies, and the message is criminals have nowhere to hide.”

Community leaders have praised the work of the team and welcomed their results.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: “These are really impressive figures.

“Huge credit must go to the dedicated officers who are really delivering results and frustrating the criminal fraternity.”

Blackburn with Darwen Mayor, Cllr Hussain Akhtar, said: “I welcome this fantastic work by the police in making our area safer and this should be a warning to criminals that the police will catch up with them.

“I would encourage anyone who suspects crime is happening in their area to contact the police.”

Later in the day the team attended an address after relatives raised concerns for safety about a Blackburn resident. Sgt Kelshaw said the man opened the door to officers and they waited for his mental health case worker to arrive. He was left with a family member.

In the afternoon support unit officers were out carrying out patrols in crime hotspots and stopping vehicles for motoring offences.

The work of the team was recorded live on a social media blog.

Sgt Kelshaw said: “The reason we have promoted the work we do on social media is to show people what we do on a day to day basis.

“Quite a lot of the time people see our blue van out and think we are going to the most serious of incident.

“Often we do but we also do routine policing work, as well as the major incidents and drugs warrants.”

Sgt Kelshaw said the team are specialist and multi-skilled officers, who provide support across Lancashire. Over Christmas they helped tackle the flooding in Whalley.