A total of ten suspected Class A drug dealers are now in custody following a second day of dawn raids by police.Six addresses across the town were raided simultaneously by teams of police officers at 7am this morning as part of Operation Hydra, a force-wide initiative to combat and disrupt serious crime in Norfolk.

A total of 12 suspected Class A drug dealers are now in custody following a second day of police raids in Thetford.

Eight addresses across the town were raided simultaneously by teams of police officers today as part of Operation Hydra, a force-wide initiative to combat and disrupt serious crime in Norfolk.

Five men were arrested on suspicion of the supply of controlled drugs and have been taken into police custody.

The seven people arrested yesterday morning in the area of Thetford's Abbey Estate in similar raids also remain in police custody.

The second, community reassurance phase of the initiative has also commenced with Safer Neighbourhoods officers are carrying out high visibility foot patrols throughout those areas affected, handing out information leaflets and offering reassurance to local residents.

Western Area Supt Nick Dean said: “Today's arrests demonstrate our continuing commitment to target those who deal in drugs across western area and I can assure people these types of operations will continue in the forthcoming weeks.

“This type of pro-active police activity will not only target people who deal in drugs but will encompass those involved in any type of serious crime which impacts on our communities. These are not one-off hits, we will continue to use all necessary tactics to target offenders and take them off the streets.

Today's operation has involved western Area officers, including pro-active, uniformed and CID officers, supported by members of the force drugs and serious crime squad.