Police have charged nine people from Preston in connection with drug dealing across the city.

Drugs raids were carried out from Monday as part of Operation Nexus by Lancashire Police.

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The nine people charged with conspiracy to supply class A controlled drugs (cocaine and heroin) are:

Linford Baron, 26 of St Marks Road
Wendy Baron, 46 of Mardale Road
Kieron Killeen, 29, of Bowness Road
Wayne Jackson, 58 of Bowness Road
Mohammed Sulaman Khan, 47 of Ribbleton Lane, Leanne Mclaughlin, 26 of Dodgson Road
Ben Hartley, 18 of Lynn Place
Matthew Carberry, 18 of Dundonald Street
and a 17 year old boy, also from Preston.

A first phase of Operation Nexus in March saw 16 people arrested and several thousand pounds and large quantities of drugs recovered. Numerous weapons were also found during the raids.

Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Holgate said; “We launched a second phase of this operation to send a clear message to those who may be involved in organised crime that we will not sit back and tolerate this sort of activity in our City and on our streets.

“Although this is another seemingly short burst of activity, we want to be clear that there is always work going on behind the scenes.

“We will continue to work with our communities and partners build and work on our intelligence to constantly target those that may be involved in drugs supply, as well as the violence and anti-social behaviour that comes hand in hand with drug dealing so we can protect and keep safe the most vulnerable in our city.”

Read more: Watch undercover footage showing how drugs gang was busted in Preston

Lancashire police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “Those in areas affected by drug related and organised crime know that it is a blight on whole communities – operations like this show that the police continually take action against these criminals.

“No stone is left unturned in stopping criminal gangs and the range of specialist officers and different police teams involved in this operation shows that frontline policing is much more than just the traditional bobby on the beat.

“Information from the public plays a vital role in supporting our officers’ hard work and determination to keep the public safe.”

Read more: Police dog sniffs out dealer’s cocaine stash

Any information can be passed to police via 101 or anonymously by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.