ELEVEN more people have been arrested following another series of drugs raids in Weymouth and Portland.

Officers again swooped as part of Operation Dismantle – a large-scale effort to stamp out the dealing of Class A drugs in Dorset.

Police searched eight residential properties in Radipole, Southill, the Park District, Westham, Littlemoor and Wyke Regis yesterday.

A haul of Class A drugs – believed to be heroin – was seized and seven men and four women were arrested in relation to drugs offences.

The latest raids came the day after the first wave of Operation Dismantle searches, which led to six men being detained by police.

Specially-trained officers attended the eight addresses across Weymouth and Portland yesterday and executed warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

The properties were thoroughly searched and the recovered quantity of suspected heroin was sent off for forensic examination.

Four women, aged between 29 and 46, and six men, aged between 26 and 56, all from the Weymouth area, were arrested following the raids.

A seventh man, from Portland, was also detained in relation to drugs offences late on Monday night as part of the intelligence-led operation.

Inspector Pete Meteau, of Weymouth Police, has said that Operation Dismantle is taking place throughout Dorset to disrupt the supply of drugs.

The first drugs raids came on Monday, as officers targeted properties in Preston, Westham, Weymouth town centre and Portland.

Six men were arrested following those initial searches, and five men have since been charged with supplying Class A drugs and one with handling stolen goods.

Dorset Police are urging witnesses and anyone with information on the dealing of drugs in the county to contact them in confidence on 01305 222222.