Three people have been charged as part of an investigation into alleged drug dealing in Nelson.

The charges, police said, are part of a cross-border drug supply investigation, believed to be based in East Lancashire.

Yesterday, on Wednesday July 27, a series of warrants were executed at addresses in Burnley and Pendle and four people were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs.

Three of those men have since been charged with alleged drugs offences.

Michael Rennie, 38, of Whitehough Place, Nelson, Michael Masih, 43, of Waidshouse Road, Nelson, and Christopher Paul, 33, of Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, have all now been charged by detectives.

They have been charged with conspiracy to supply a Class A controlled drug and conspiracy to supply a Class B controlled drug, and are due to appear at Blackburn Magistrates' Court today.

The fourth man arrested – aged 52 and from Burnley – remains in custody at this time.

Police said as part of the investigation they have recovered significant amounts of cocaine, ketamine and cannabis, as well as other drug paraphernalia.

During yesterday’s warrants officers seized mobile phones, cash and a quantity of drugs.

DI Tom Edmondson, of Lancashire East CID, said: “Yesterday we made four arrests following warrants at addresses in the east of the county.

"The activity was carried out as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt organised criminal gangs operating in the county.

“Three people have now been charged and a fourth man remains in custody while enquiries are ongoing.

“As always we want to remind people that we rely on community intelligence about drug dealing and supply, and we continue to urge anybody with information about it to get in touch.”