SEVERAL arrests have been made following drugs raids over the weekend in Porthmadog and Bala.

Officers from North Wales Police arrested several people and carried out property searches across the area.

Police executed search warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act in the Holyhead and Porthmadog areas on 14 and 15 October.

During the searches officers seized a substantial amount of what was believed to be Class A controlled drugs, as well as cash, an offensive weapon and other associated paraphernalia.

During both warrants four men were arrested and all have been released under investigation whilst enquiries continue.

Additionally, two men – one 28 and the other 21 years old – also remain in police custody after a vehicle was stopped in the Bala area on Sunday. Both men were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. Items and cash were seized, police said.

Inspector Jon Aspinall from Caernarfon Police Station, who coordinated the operation, said: “This is part of the continuing work we are undertaking in response to our communities’ concerns relating to drug use and associated crime in the region.

“Under Operation Rattle we are determined to target the few who cause the most harm by bringing drugs into our communities from outside the north Wales area.

“In line with our ongoing Operation Scorpion we are directly targeting serious and organised crime.”

“Possession and distribution of controlled drugs will not be tolerated in our communities and we will continue to take positive, robust action.

"However we cannot tackle this problem alone and the key to all our work and that of our partners is intelligence and I cannot emphasise enough the importance of the community sharing their concerns with us.”