POLICE have today carried out drugs warrants at four properties in Taunton.

Five people - a woman and four men - were arrested at properties in Hamilton Road and Leycroft Road.

The suspects, who included four people aged under 18 from London, are suspected of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

An 18-year-old from Manchester was arreted in another raid in a house in Holway on suspicion of possession of criminal property.

A haul of £5,000 cash was seized in the property, believed to have come from illegal drug activity.

Chief Inspector Lisa Simpson, commander for the Somerset West Local Policing Area, said: “Firstly I want to thank the local community for the information they have supplied that has helped with this investigation.

“They have made very clear that they do not want drug dealing in their neighbourhoods and have been taking action to assist us deal with the issue. Please keep talking to us, either directly or via Crimestoppers.

“Secondly I want to reassure people that this activity is just part of a range of proactive operations we are undertaking across the area to deal with drug dealing. It won’t end here.

“We are not a soft-touch in Somerset, we will not tolerate drug-dealing or related anti-social behaviour, let me be very clear about that.

"We will continue to work with our partners in local authority and housing to deal with this kind of crime, and with other agencies to help support those with addiction.

"We will also work hard to protect young and vulnerable people from being exploited by drug dealers.

“We want to know about anyone suspected to be housing drug dealers or allowing the supply of drugs from their premises.

"We also want to hear from anyone who is worried about friends, neighbours or relatives they feel might be vulnerable to drug dealers due to dependency or debt.”

*A ONE-inch thick wadge of £20 notes was taken from a suspected drug dealer by central Taunton police during a drugs operation this morning.

Somerset County Gazette:

*POLICE have arested five people from one address in Taunton during a drugs raid this morning (Thursday, October 6).

Officers and a sniffer dog burst into the premises as part of an Avon and Somerset Police action.

Somerset County Gazette:

The five people have been taken into custody on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs.

A man has also been arrested in a home in Milton Road, Taunton.

Warrants are being executed at a number of addresses in the county town.

Somerset County Gazette:

Meanwhile, officers, including PCSO Tony Stone (pictured above) in Lambrook, have been calling on neighbouring houses to reassure residents.

This is the message from the police:

Somerset County Gazette: