Seven held in 'crack' raids

Armed officers took part in the raids

Police say they have broken one of the biggest crack cocaine operations in the UK.

Seven people have been arrested in London as part of a joint operation with the FBI which saw simultaneous raids on homes in the US.

Armed officers swooped in London after months of surveillance.

Two men in their 30s and a woman in her 40s were arrested in the first raids, at addresses in the Gypsy Hill, Wembley and Manor Park areas shortly after 1930GMT on Monday.

Crack cocaine: The drug is usually smoked

Four others were arrested during dawn raids in the Harlesden area on Tuesday.

Detective Superintendent Steve Gwilliam, of the Metropolitan Police's Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: "We have successfully thwarted one of, if not the biggest, crack cocaine operations in London."

No drugs were found during the raids because it is understood that those arrested were "at the top of the ladder".

Further arrests were expected in the US, a Scotland Yard spokesperson said.