Officers from Rural East Devon raided several properties in Seaton, Sidmouth and Axminster searching for drugs over the past week.

Such warrants, authorised under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, permits officers to enter, search and seize.

Over the past week, warrants authorised by magistrates have been executed in Seaton, Sidmouth and Axminster.

Large quantities of class A drugs have been seized.

In addition, several weapons and imitation firearms have also been seized.

Several arrests have been made.

Investigations and prosecutions will continue.

This activity is part of the wider south west operation entitled Operation Scorpion.

Operation Scorpion is a collaboration between the police forces of the South West region (Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire), alongside the British Transport Police, and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU). This partnership combines resources to tackle drug supply across the region and make the South West a hostile environment for drugs.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "These warrants would not be possible without the reports that we receive from our communities.

"Every report made to us is logged and analysed against a wider intelligence picture. This provides the context, patterns of behaviour and evidence to be able to submit our applications to magistrates for approval.

"The production and supply of Class A drugs (and of course all illegal substances) is dangerous, insidious, and exploitative. Criminals profit from the misery and vulnerability of others and we will continue to disrupt at every possible opportunity.

"Every report that the community submits to us will be analysed. The analysis and intelligence work that proceeds behind the scenes is often not obvious to the wider public (and often for good reason). But be assured that every report is of importance and assists us to plan and execute these warrants."