DRUGS, firearms and counterfeit money were among just some of the stash seized in armed police raids.

More details have emerged about the major operation which saw five premises in Weymouth and Portland stormed by officers on Wednesday.

A quantity of controlled drugs, counterfeit goods, counterfeit money, cannabis cultivation equipment, three Taser stun guns and three firearms plus ammunition were recovered.

It has been revealed that the raids were carried out after a vehicle was stopped by police.

UK Transport in Lynch Lane and addresses in Marshallsay Road and Jubilee Close were part of Weymouth raids whilst other police units carried out searches at two addresses in Castletown and New Road on Portland.

Three Weymouth men aged 32, 35 and 36 and two men from Portland, aged 28 and 52, were arrested on suspicion of a number of offences.

These include possession of cannabis with intent to supply and firearms offences.

They have now been bailed pending further forensic work and ballistic examination of the firearms.

Detective Inspector Stewart Dipple, of Weymouth CID, said: “The searches were as a result of a proactive patrol stop which led to the discovery of the controlled substances in the first instance.

“From that initial arrest, further searches were swiftly carried out and ultimately stun guns and firearms have been successfully removed from circulation.

“I would like to stress that there appeared to be no intention to use the firearms and no threats were made.”

Officers and police staff from all over Dorset, including specialist search officers, CID, Firearms, Traffic, Force Intelligence Bureau, Field Intelligence officers and the Dog Unit, were all involved in the fast-paced operation that successfully culminated in the seizure of several weapons and multiple arrests.

As the Echo reported, witnesses described seeing around 30 officers raid UK Transport in Lovells Yard at around 11am and begin a search that lasted hours.

It went on late into the afternoon at the MOT service station, which carries out car and van repairs for customers in the motor vehicles repairs industry.

The family-run business also assists with breakdown recovery, classic car and van sales and light haulage.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Dorset Police on 101.