THIS is the moment policed smashed their way into a suspected drugs den on a housing estate in Newport in an early-morning raid.

Five people were arrested in connection with drug offences in the dawn swoop.

Officers stormed two addresses in Bettws just after 7am after getting tip-offs from people living in the area that drug dealing was going on.

The Bettws Neighbourhood Policing Team assembled at the station on the estate before 15 officers loaded into vans and drove the short distance to Livale Court.

Once at the scene, they broke off into two teams to simultaneously swoop on two houses in the same street. While officers forced open the door on one of the houses, their counterparts smashed their way in through the front down-stairs window.

Police then conducted a thorough, three-hour search of the houses with the help of a sniffer dog, uncovering what is thought to be a couple of ounces of amphetamines and up to 30 wraps of cannabis worth around 12,000 in total.

Bettws Sgt John Davies said: "I'm very pleased with how it went this morning, the entries were fast and safe, nobody got hurt and it sends out a message to the community that we are going to do something about the problems they come to us with."

A 17-year-old boy, 30-year-old woman and 36-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply.

They were bailed pending forensic examination. Another two men, aged 20 and 30, were arrested on suspicion of possession of Class B drugs and were cautioned.

• Anyone who has concerns about drug dealing in Bettws can call the Neighbourhood Policing Team on 01633 245 477 or e-mail newportmestnpt@gwent.pnn.policeuk