18 men have been arrested this morning in a series of dawn raids across Lancashire, Cumbria and Merseyside.

The operation – code-named Operation Oak – is part of a major investigation into the supply of class A drugs across the three counties.

The raids began at around 7am this morning and took place at addresses in the following streets:

Barrow-in-Furness: Sloop Street, St Andrews Street, Harrison Street and Hood Street.

Blackburn: Chestnut Walk, Brunel Walk and Skelshaw Close.

Liverpool: Sevenoak Grove and Freesia Avenue.

Preston: Moor Hall Street, Moss Lane, Nevett Street, Bowland Road, Broughton Street, Dove Street and Castleton Road.

There was also a raid in Manchester Road in Huddersfield.

18 men, aged between 26 and 33, were arrested on suspicion of drug supply offences.

All the men are in police custody and are due to be interviewed later today.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Leeson, of Lancashire Constabulary’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, who is heading Operation Oak, said: “This morning’s raids are part of an ongoing investigation into the activities of a suspected organised crime group and a drugs supply chain that has seen heroin and cocaine being moved across, and sold in, Lancashire, Cumbria and Merseyside.”

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Forrester from Cumbria Constabulary, said: “We are committed to ridding our communities of illegal drugs and sending out a strong message to criminals who think they can cross over counties borders to commit crime.”