NINE people have been charged with drug offences following a series of raids by police this week.

Seven men and two women appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates today charged with drugs offences.

Those who appeared at court were Thomas Michael Allison, 25, Joel Lewis Clarke, 23, Angela Lynne Collingbourne, 50, Jonathon James, 28, Tia Jones, 18, Preston Killoran, 25, Ashleigh John Mark Lloyd, 23, Liam Anthony Slade, 27, and Kieran Anthony Vodden who is 23.

More than 120 Gwent Police officers, together with regional organised crime unit Tarian, carried out early morning raids at properties throughout Newport on Thursday.

Raids were carried out in Lliswerry, Maindee and Alway. The raids took place to combat “serious and organised” drug trafficking in the city.

Detective chief inspector Julian Bull from Tarian said: “This was a jointly co-ordinated approach to tackling serious and organised crime in the region between Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit and our partners in Gwent police.

“Tarian ROCU focusses its assets on the most serious organised crime that occurs both across the southern Wales region and nationally.”

Three other men - aged 23, 26 and 33 - from Newport have been released under investigation.