Police in Greenwich have arrested 15 people after carrying out a series of dawn drugs raids across the borough.

Officers busted several properties in the early hours of this morning, detaining 15 people on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

Nine of the arrests were made in Woolwich, with others in Charlton, Greenwich, Redbridge, Forest Gate, Bexleyheath and Anerley.

Those arrested remain in police custody at various stations.

The operation comes after months of work by officers in the Greenwich borough as part of a wider operation to target dealers and their Class A drug network across the south of England.

Commander Simon Dobinson, of Greenwich borough described it as a “very successful operation”.

He said: "We want to reassure the public that dealing drugs in the Royal Borough of Greenwich will not be tolerated.

“Drug dealers are harmful to our communities and take advantage of vulnerable people. They wreck lives.

"This operation and others like it disrupt the dealers and dent their ability to continue in their criminal activity.

"The arrest of these people has been achieved not only through police investigation, but also through the intelligence received from the community who we are indebted to.”

Commander Dobinson urged anyone with information about any criminal activity to contact the police either by dialling 101 or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Greenwich Borough's Violent and Organised Crime Unit (VOCU) and Proactive Disruption Team (PDT), were supported by officers from the Met's Trident and Area Crime Command and Territorial Support Group (TSG) in carrying out this morning’s raids.

The VOCU, which is supported by Greenwich Council, was set up in 2008 to tackles gangs, drug dealing and serious youth violence.