JUST one arrest was made during yesterday's huge police operation to crackdown on drug dealing in Southampton.

But police were hailing the latest phase of Operation Phoenix as a big public relations success.

Police officers and sniffer dogs greeted air, rail and ferry passengers in Southampton as police targeted all major supply routes into the city.

About 30 officers and four dogs were at Southampton International Airport, Southampton Central railway station and Red Funnel's foot and vehicle ferry points at Town Quay.

The high-profile operation was mounted in a bid to send out a clear message that Southampton was a no-go area for drug-dealers or those looking to commit crime to support drugs activity.

It involved officers from Hampshire Constabulary, British Transport Police and Surrey Constabulary. Two sniffer dogs from Hampshire and two from Surrey weaved in and out of passengers searching for illegal substances.

Roads policing unit officers also stopped what police described as a "significant" number of vehicles in Southampton's West Quay Road. It was there that the arrest was made.

Operation Phoenix spokesman Sgt Simon Reason said one person had been arrested in relation to possession of cannabis and it was understood that the person detained was also wanted in connection with other matters.

At Southampton Central railway station, a sniffer dog identified five people who had traces of drugs on them.

Sgt Reason said all five were searched but no drugs were found and it was suspected that the people concerned had been using or handling drugs the previous evening.