HOUSES in Burnley and Pendle were raided by forty police officers as part of a major drugs trafficking investigation.

Five people, four men and a woman, were arrested and taken to different police stations for questioning.

Detective Chief Inspector Clive Tattum said the house raids early yesterday were a follow up to Operation Canberra in May as a result of which 63 people had been arrested and charged with various offences including drugs supply and burglary.

He said: "I cannot comment on the individual cases but the follow up operation is another example of our determination to stamp out serious crime which causes so much misery in society.''

One man was later charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and another with burglary in a dwelling. They were due to appear before magistrates in Burnley today.

A woman was charged with handling stolen goods and bailed to appear in court at a later date.

Two other men have been granted police bail pending further inquiries in relation to supply or related drugs offences.

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