WITH several arrests and raids taking place around Montgomeryshire, Dyfed-Powys Police crackdown on drugs is bearing fruit, but more can still be done.

The Force has now launched #OperationCuckoo and is hoping that people will help them out by spotting drug dealers, who have, just like the cuckoo bird, taken over someone's home and are now using it as a base for for their operations.

At Newtown Police Station, Sergeant Ash Brice, explained: "Cuckooing is a type of crime where a drug dealer becomes friends with someone who is usually living on their own and could be quite vulnerable.

"They can be someone who is addicted to drugs or has a debt with a drug dealer.

"They could be plied with gifts which opens up the property to them.

"In a way, these dealers can be seen as the reconnaissance unit of major drug operations.

"This is how they move into new areas.

"In this day and age, the Police can't really be so secretive in our work and the only way we can combat this is if we need people on our side giving us information on these issues.

"If you see lot of people toing and froing to an address.

"Especially if the person who lives there is usually alone, then we need to know about it."

Sgt Brice, explained that it takes a lot of resources and information to be able to get the necessary warrants needed to be able to raid premises.

During the last couple of week 10 warrants and searches have taken places as part of ongoing operations.

Sgt Brice added: "It's about predictive policing, which is also about helping people access support services such as housing or social services that will help them.

"We need to show that Powys is not a soft touch,

While the people who do peddle drugs are on the wrong side of the law, the way they operate is similar to any other sort of business.

Sgt Brice added"They see a gap in the market, a potential business opportunity and they move in and try and take advantage of it.

"And it could be the beginning of more criminal activity.

"If they thinks it could work, they could escalate to human slavery and or child sexual exploitation.

"The drugs could just be the opening to large scale criminal activity.

"This is why we're asking for help from the public."

If you think that you're seeing what could be Cuckooing ring the Police on 101, or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800555111.