Drugs raid success

And the operation, codenamed Tarifa, was hailed "a great success" according to police chiefs.

DCI Stuart Williams said: "The operation has been a success due to the commitment and professionalism of the staff involved and with the co-operation of the community. We can only build on that success if the flow of information from the community continues.

"A considerable amount of dishonest crime is drug-related, especially in the inner wards, and there has recently been a considerable rise in the amount of crack cocaine available across the town.

"The operation achieved our aim of reducing the availability of drugs by targeting the suppliers.

"We need ongoing information in relation to drug misuse and supply from the community and we will use that information to plan future operations.

"A high proportion of the people arrested will be drawing state benefits. The income necessary to pay for drugs runs into thousands and means there is an enormous link to dishonest crime. All our intelligence points to the fact that these people are committing crime to fund their habit," he said.

Paolo Pertico, Blackpool's drug action team co-ordinator, said the team were very supportive of any activity which reduced the availability of drugs in the community and added that the availability of Class A drugs in Blackpool was not necessarily worse than other towns and city in the UK.

Operation Tarifa -- a series of co-ordinated raids on addresses in Blackpool on September 26 -- culminated in the arrest of 29 people, including six women, for suspected drug offences.

Of those, 23 were charged with 60 offences of supplying Class A drugs -- including heroin, cocaine and crack -- and three offences of possession.

Twenty-two people appeared before Blackpool Magistrates on September 27 and were remanded to appear at a later date. The 23rd person will appear before the court on November 13.