Police sent a message to city drug gangs trying to infiltrate the area by carrying out raids on suspected dealers.

Gangs from cities, including Bristol and London, have been attempting to weave their way into the fabric of several Wiltshire towns in recent months.

Police say they have been picking off the most vulnerable members of society and setting up camp in their homes and then using them as a base for drug dealing.

In Chippenham, the problem is thought to lie with the Blood Gang, who are class A drug dealers pushed out of Bristol by robust policing.

This week, more than 150 Wiltshire Police officers hit dozens of addresses around the county, making several arrests and seizing tens of thousands of pounds worth of drugs.

In Chippenham, eight associates of gang members were arrested and police seized around £2,000 cash, a significant amount of class A and B drugs and several items of suspected stolen property, which included mountain bikes and computers.

DI Mike Rees said: “Apart from detecting these criminals, this operation was about sending out a message to those from big cities that Wiltshire is not a safe haven.”

As well as Chippenham, addresses in Calne, Swindon, Trowbridge, Amesbury and Salisbury were targeted.

In total 26 arrests were made and drugs with a street value of £25,000 were seized, as well as £6,000 in cash.

The arrests were for possession and cultivation of drugs, theft and money laundering.

The operation shows the drug problem in Wiltshire goes deeper than had been suspected.

DI Rees said: “There are 38 organised crime groups in London that are known to have been in Wiltshire trying to deal drugs in the past three years.

“Members of these gangs have an average age of 15 to 30.”

He also said that Blood Gang members operating in Chippenham had been known to be involved in gang rape, stabbings and robberies.

He said: “That is the sort of problem they will bring to our county if we do not police it proactively.

“They are looking for vulnerable people to stay with while they carry out their trade.”

Superintendent Gavin Williams said: “We are pleased with the results of this operation and hope it sends a clear message to any dealers, whether they are from the local area or not, that drug dealing will not be tolerated in Wiltshire.

“Illegal drugs destroy families and communities and as this operation highlights we will use all the methods available to us to ensure that offenders are brought to justice and Wiltshire remains one of the safest counties in the country.

“I would also like to use this opportunity to thank the local community for their continued help and support.

“We rely on the information they provide us with and I would encourage anyone with information to contact police or Crime- stoppers.”