POLICE have carried out a major operation on Southall’s troubled Havelock Estate this morning, as part of a crackdown on drug offences.

Nearly 200 officers were deployed in the early hours to carry out search warrants at properties and checking garages for drugs or evidence of illegal activity.

The first warrants were executed at about 4am this morning before further searches took place at around 8am.

Weapons searches are being carried out. A machete and an axe were discovered at one property earlier this morning.

Police were assisted by sniffer dogs and also the marine unit, which carried out patrols along Southall’s stretch of the Grand Union Canal. They were also accompanied by immigration officers on the lookout for any drug users or rough sleepers who are in the country illegally.

Over the last six months, more than 250 calls were made to police relating to anti-social behaviour on the estate.

The initiative, part of Operation Ten Pin, is being carried out in co-operation with Ealing Council.