Police targeting the trafficking of drugs via the rail network achieved remarkable results in an operation at Richmond Station this week.

The team, which included a drugs sniffer dog, seized 16 separate sets of illegal drugs and a knife being carried by one individual on Tuesday evening.

The team, made up of British Transport Police (BTP) and the Metropolitan Police, also arrested an individual who was wanted on a warrant.

The fact that so many individuals were identified as carrying drugs in one short operation has turned the spotlight on the scale of drug use and dealing in the Richmond area and wider south west London.

Successful drug and weapons seizures have been carried out in similar operations at Twickenham Station.

Officers have been targeting the trafficking of drugs via the railway along with the carrying of knives and antisocial behaviour under the Operation Valve initiative.

A BTP spokesman told Nub News: "British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police Service conducted a joint operation at Richmond station to tackle the movement of drugs using the rail network.

"Officers seized 16 lots of drugs and one knife. One man was arrested for being in breach of his court order.

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"The operation is just one example of the daily deployments we carry out across the railway nationwide to crack down on drug supply.

"Its aim is to tackle county lines activity and identify and safeguard vulnerable individuals exploited in this crime type.

"As part of the operation, officers deployed a number of specialist resources including a drugs detection dog."