SUSPECTED drug dealers in Barrow were given a rude awakening on Saturday morning as police clamped down on offenders.

Officers from the drug squad, along with police dogs, attended four addresses in Ormsgill to arrest suspects.

There was similar police action taking place in Liverpool to coincide with the Ormsgill move.

Inspector Jim Bailey, of Barrow police, said: "I want to send the message out that we won't tolerate class A drug dealing on our streets.

"In particular we want to push on the fact that we don't want organised crime groups from Liverpool or potentially London, coming into Barrow to exploit people.

"We want to send the message out to criminals in south Cumbria that they will be targeted and taken out.

"If they're charged then chances are you will go to prison. We'll look at possible proceeds of crime and taking money off you too.

"What we're saying to the people involved in this type of criminality is don't come to south Cumbria. We've got an excellent team here."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Drug Squad, response, Operational Support officers in action this weekend. An Evening Mail reporter came along for the ride. Check out the Evening Mail this week for details. Op Savannah <a href="https://t.co/l7m8jMtz9b">pic.twitter.com/l7m8jMtz9b</a></p>— Barrow Police (@barrowpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/barrowpolice/status/934900659698257926?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">26 November 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Officers are also on the lookout for drug dealers imposing themselves on vulnerable people by offering them drugs and taking over their homes as a base for their illegal operations.

Insp Bailey said: "Saturday morning was Operation Savannah, an operation targeting potential organised crime networks that have been coming into the Barrow area and involving class A drugs.

"The operation has been run by the southern drugs unit which is a dedicated team working hard to disrupt these organised crime networks coming into the south of the county.

"In particular this operation was targeting the Barrow area and Saturday was the first part of it where we've conducted a number of arrests in relation to suspects involved in drugs supply."

On Saturday November 25, the police operation struck properties in High White Close, Low White Close and Broad Close in Ormsgill, breaking down doors. Officers also attended an address in Settle Street.

Two suspects were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply between September and November. A further two remain in custody.

Insp Bailey said: "We have really good ties with Liverpool police. The sergeant and team that went down there they work with support groups based down there.

"We share intelligence to have a joined up approach about how these groups coming to Barrow are operating.

"Our relationship with them is excellent. This is one operation but we've had many with them in the past where we've worked together to target these groups."

The operation served as the local enforcement of national scheme County Lines.

DSI Dean Holden, of Cumbria Constabulary, said: "These dealers and organised criminals have become a real threat to forces across the country.

"There is quite a lot of work going on in Cumbria as part of the wider County Lines initiative.

"We know Liverpool is a key exporter of drugs to Barrow so we are working with our colleagues at Merseyside Police."