Police raids lead to 478 arrests

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A major operation across south Wales has led to the seizure of thousands of pounds of street drugs and the uncovering of a massive cannabis factory in Swansea.

A total of 478 people have been arrested in south Wales in a two-day police operation targeting drug dealers, car thieves and gangs.

Dawn raids and follow-up operations were held in Swansea, Cardiff, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, Barry, Merthyr and Pontypridd, beginning on Tuesday.

Heroin was also seized in Operation Jaguar, which involved 400 officers.

South Wales Police said two cannabis factories were found in Swansea and three in Bridgend.

The raids involved uniformed officers, the roads policing unit, dog handlers, mounted section, CID, and the financial investigation unit.

The operation targeted those suspected of committing burglary, theft, auto crime, drug offences, assault, traffic offences and those wanted on warrant.

One of the cannabis factories which police uncovered

Chief Insp Will Rees said: "We have sent out a clear message that we will crack down on those individuals who break the law.

"This is two days of positive action. Much of the success is down to the information we get from the general public, so this is also a clear message to them that we will act on the information they give us."

He said incidents included two men being stopped by officers as they pulled up outside a house in Swansea, where a cannabis factory was discovered.

A drugs warrant in Abercwmboi, Aberdare, led to a seizure of 10 bars of cannabis worth about £9,000.

Two men thought to be part of an organised crime gang were arrested in Dowlais on suspicion of assault.

A Swansea woman was arrested for having 30 wraps of heroin.