HAMPSHIRE police today staged their biggest-ever operation in a bid to rid Southampton of organised drug crime.
Almost 50 addresses were targeted within the city in pre-dawn raids with further warrants executed in London and Birmingham after police identified a network of criminals who peddle the lethal trade on the city streets.
Today's operation, codenamed Phoenix involved 600 officers - a sixth of the force's total manpower.
The operation is the result of a year-long intelligence project that identified key players who not only supply drugs but then go on to commit further offences as a result of the dealing.
Southampton's city chiefs are now calling on residents to play their part in keeping the streets free of the scourge of drug-related crime.
A campaign was launched this morning urging the public to work with the authorities to stop the network of criminal activity disrupted by today's raids from being rebuilt.
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