SUSPECTED drug dealers were arrested in dawn raids by the police today.

Six addresses in Nelson were raided at 7am and three people were arrested in an operation code-named New York.

A further person was brought from prison and arrested at Colne police station by arrangement.

Substances believed to be heroin and crack cocaine were taken away for analysis.

Those arrested, all men in their late teens and early 20s, were being questioned at police stations across the Pennine division, which covers Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, about supplying and conspiracy to supply controlled drugs.

The operation, which was set up specifically to target drugs offences, was headed by Chief Inspector Jerry Graham, from Burnley police station. The crackdown on drug dealers is continuing and further arrests were expected in the next few days.

Officers raided houses in Bankhouse Road, Pine Street and Dover Street. They battered down doors in a "rapid entry" operation to ensure vital evidence was not lost.

In one house no-one was found but a quantity of suspected drugs was located. Further searches were being carried out during the day.

Mr Graham said the operation had been carefully planned over seven months and involved between 40 and 50 people, including specialist officers from the major crime unit at Lancashire Police headquarters and other parts of the county. "As well as making arrests we seized quantities of substances, believed to be heroin and crack cocaine, which will be taken away for analysis," he said.

"In addition officers spent some time talking to neighbours and explaining why there had been such a high police presence this morning. We were concerned that people getting up for breakfast would wonder what was going on and we thought about that in advance.

"We've listened to individuals and the community who have told us about drug dealing.

"The message to those thinking of dealing in drugs is that you can't do it with impunity. Clearly there are people we haven't been able to speak to today and we will be continuing to gather evidence and conduct our inquiries."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.