POLICE today claimed they had smashed a forgery and drug dealing ring.

Detectives executed search warrants at six addresses and arrested five people after seizing credit cards and heroin.

Four men and a woman were arrested following the swoops on homes in Brierfield and Nelson.

More than 30 police were mobilised to carry out the synchronised raids.

Counterfeiting machinery and in excess of 350 counterfeit 'cloned' credit cards were seized.

Cloned credit cards are produced by criminal gangs who take the details of a legitimate card to produce illegal copies.

Cloned cards can be used for months before the original card holder discovers that their details have been copied. The cards are thought to have been used to buy goods all over the country.

Between four and five ounces of heroin with a street value of £8,000 was also found at one of the addresses.

Detective Inspector Simon Leach of Pennine Division said: "It is a significant find and one of the biggest in the country.

"We have possibly broken up a major credit card fraud network. Our primary aim was to disrupt it and we have done that."

The five detained by police were interviewed by detectives and have been released on bail. The investigation and operation will continue for at least three months.

"It is a complex operation and it is going to take some time to work our way through it," Insp Leach added.