NINETEEN people are in custody after 250 police officers carried out a series of dawn drugs raids across the New Forest.

The arrests – of 13 men and six women, all aged 21 to 55 – were made in a number of co-ordinated strikes at 6am yesterday. A small quantity of substances thought to be class A and class B drugs were recovered.

Yesterday’s raids were the culmination of Operation Mercury aimed at disrupting class A drugs supply in the New Forest.

It was launched following information given to police and followed a number of heroin-related deaths in the area.

Detective Inspector Paul Gelman said: “We are extremely pleased with the results we have achieved.

“Operation Mercury was launched when it became apparent there was a real and clear problem of heroin and crack cocaine supply across parts of our communities. We are committed to doing all we can to tackle this and continuing to ensure that the New Forest remains a safe place to live and work.

“We hope residents will feel the benefits of what we have achieved during the past eight months.”

Chief Inspector Gary Cooper, commander of the New Forest, added: “It has been an extremely successful first phase, but this is just the start.”

A dedicated consolidation exercise was carried out yesterday to reassure people following the police activity with 27 officers and staff carrying out door-to-door calls in the immediate areas where homes had been raided.

Statements were also being taken from those affected by drugs misuse and dealing. That information will now be compiled to help police and the local authority bring a civil case and apply for Asbos for offenders.

Officers also visited every doctor’s surgery in the area as well as The Bridge drugs referral centre, where addicts may turn up needing help because they are unable to get their next fix.

Inspector John McGonigle said: “It’s of vital importance to the community to understand what activity has taken place and why, so they won’t be afraid. They have been saying to us for some time that they want something done about the drugs problem, particularly in Ashley and New Milton. We have responded to what they have said and hopefully they will see that we do listen.”

Police will hold a meeting at New Milton Memorial Hall on July 21 at 7pm to tell residents more.