POLICE have arrested 29 people in two weeks as part of the battle against drugs and today warned dealers "your turn will come."

Officers have also revealed that their raids have uncovered a Samurai sword, firearms and more than 20 rounds of ammunition as well as a large amount of cash.

Officers stormed into a flat in Sussex Drive, in the Audley area of Blackburn, two weeks ago to signal their intent to target known drug dealers.

As part of Lancashire Police's Safer Streets initiative, officers covering Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley have vowed to raid a drug dealer a day.

Class A drugs will be initially targeted although other drugs have also been seized.

In the 15 days since that raid, in a which a 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs, 23 warrants have been executed at addresses throughout the division.

A total of 29 people have been arrested on a variety of drug offences and vast quantities drugs such as heroin, crack cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis, have been seized. Five have been charged with supplying a Class A drug, while the rest are on bail as inquiries continue.

Detective Sergeant Andrea Barrow, of Blackburn Police, said this reinforced the message to drug dealers.

She said: "The figures show that our drive to reduce street crime by focusing on drug dealers is working.

"We have carried out our promise to execute a raid a day, and in some instances we have done more than one. We will carry on doing so and want to send the message to dealers that if they have not been raided yet, they soon will be."

DS Barrow also called on the public to supply them with vital information on drug dealing activity. She said no matter how small the information may seem, it will be collated and acted upon.

She said: "Without the public we would not get these results, and we still need their help."

If anybody has information they should call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

The raid-a-day initiative, taking in Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, is part of a force-wide Safer Streets in Lancashire initiative, prompted by the Government's drive to reduce street crime in ten forces in the country.

Offences covered by the initiative are robbery, car-jacking, snatch theft, possession of firearms and drugs trafficking.

Activity in much of the county will be aimed at targeting drugs dealers as police said there was a clear link between drug misuse and certain types of offences, particularly street crimes.

Eastern Division officers, including detectives, area beat officers, support unit officers, armed response and the road policing unit, will be involved in the scheme.

As well as raiding premises, officers will be on high-visibility patrol in "hotspot" areas to offer reassurance to the communities.