Police officers in Brent arrested ten men as they carried out raids across Brent as part of an intelligence-led proactive operation to tackle gangs and drug supply in the borough.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Trident and Gang Crime Command, along with local borough officers and the Territorial Support Group carried out the raids on Thursday morning (June 23) on a total of 12 addresses.
Among their findings was a 'robbery kit' box, containing a knife and dark gloves.
Nine of the men were arrested on suspicion of drug offences while one was arrested for possession of a taser.
The raids were carried out as part of a wider anti-gang operation targeting gangs in Brent and Hackney, with those arrested on June 23 remaining in custody in police stations in north London.
Detective Superintendent Tim Champion, from the Met’s Trident and Gang Crime Command, said: "Reducing gang violence is a Met priority.
"Gang-related drug dealing ruins lives for those that are directly involved, like dealers and users.
"It also leaves local communities scarred by crimes and the anti-social behaviour that is an inevitable consequence of the dealing.
"Today’s operation is the result of months of activity to reduce gang violence and remove gang related drug dealers from the streets of Brent, to improve the environment for the local community."
Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Mick Gallagher, Borough commander for Brent, said: "I would like to thank the local residents and businesses affected by the street drug dealing in this area for their continued support.
"The local community understand the challenges; they have been totally behind us and we will continue to work closely with our partners, other agencies and community members to make the area safer and help those who want to get out of a life of crime."
Elsewhere, a group of armed robbers were jailed in Hayes for robbing drug dealers while wielding a machine gun.
