Nineteen people arrested by Herts Police in county line drug gang scheme
Eight different weapons and £20,000 in cash was also recovered
Nineteen people have been arrested following a two-week sting operation to crack down on county line drug gangs.
Hertfordshire Police confirmed that - as part of a national crackdown on the production and selling of narcotics - several raids had been carried out around the county.
A number of different addressed were visited by officers between June 17 and 26, with 19 people being arrested and detained.
In total, officers were able to come across half a kilogram of cocaine, as well as four kilograms of cannabis in their raids.
As well as this, eight bladed weapons were found, as well as £20,000 in cash were discovered and later seized.
Thirteen of the suspected have since been charged for their various offences, which include supplying of a class A drug, possession with intent to supply a class A drug and possession of an offensive weapon.
The suspects who have been charged by police range from between 19 and 53, and have residences in Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City.
Another six suspects, including a 16-year-old boy have been arrested and since bailed while enquiries are taking place; these span across Hertfordshire and London.
Speaking on the operation, Grant Finnie from Herts Police said: "The County Lines Investigation Unit have spent two weeks intensifying their investigations in the Welwyn Hatfield areas of the county.
"Sadly, County Lines are well known to be linked to serious violence and the team worked closely with our Neighbourhood Policing Teams for the area, whose proactive capability to target these crime types and protect the vulnerable is increasing.
"They have been targeting those running the lines themselves and profiting the most from this toxic type of crime. Officers from across the county were drafted in to ensure all suspected offenders were arrested and will face justice.
"We are committed to bringing our Serious and Organised Crime capability together, with our tactical resources and Neighbourhood Policing Teams to make the best use of the intelligence available to us and this intensification work demonstrates the impact, together with our communities, that we can make."