Twelve arrests and £20,000 cash seized by police

Around £20,000 in cash has been seized and 12 arrests made in a crackdown on criminals using the region's road network.

A man in his 30s from Luton was charged with drugs supply, money laundering and assaulting an emergency services worker after he was stopped by police in his vehicle on the M1 on Tuesday (16 January).

Subsequent searches by Bedfordshire Police at an address in Luton recovered around £20,000 in cash, with officers further seizing suspected cocaine, designer clothing and multiple mobile phones.

Two women were also arrested at the address on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and have since been bailed.

Throughout the three days of action this week two further suspected drug dealers were arrested in Luton, with cannabis and cash seized.

Seven vehicles were seized over the course of the week, while officers carried out hours of proactive patrols in hotspots for burglary to deter offenders.

Detective Chief Inspector James Panter, from Bedfordshire Police, said: "These are more major results in our pursuit of drug dealers and organised crime gangs in Bedfordshire.

"Drug dealing is no victimless crime. It ruthlessly exploits vulnerable people and is the direct driver of the most horrendous violence.

"We will use every tool at our disposal to assist our investigations and bring these criminals to justice."