Police enter the Fordingbridge premises to search for drugs. DA6212P1TWO men were arrested and a large quantity of cannabis was seized following a police raid on a house in Fordingbridge.

Six officers from Totton and Hythe, led by Fordingbridge station's Sergeant Tim Adams, stormed the detached property at 5.45pm, on Wednesday last week, looking for controlled drugs.

Executing a search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act, officers carried out a detailed search of the premises using a sniffer dog, and a number of bags of 'herbal' cannabis were found.

Packages of 'skunk', a potent form of herbal cannabis, were also uncovered.

Drugs were found next to a bed in an upstairs room and further amounts were discovered in a chest freezer in the lounge.

Of the two men arrested, one has been cautioned and released without charge, the other has been released on police bail pending further enquires.

Sergeant Adams said the raid had been a success.

He said: "Some of the positive effects of this are not immediately apparent but information is often forthcoming as a result of such an operation."

The raid is one of a series planned across Hampshire, as the start of a crackdown on drug dealers.

The Rat On A Rat campaign, a partnership between the charity Crimestoppers and Hampshire Constabulary, combines a major public awareness drive with 'get tough' enforcement action against suspected criminals.

Crimestoppers' chairman for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Simon Theobalds described all drug dealers as "rats" that were "plagueing" the county.

He said: "They are vermin and do not deserve respect or protection.

"It's OK to rat on a rat - it's all they deserve."

Chief Constable Paul Kernaghan, who has being briefing officers ahead of executing warrants, described the abuse of illegal drugs as "a significant crime-generator".

He said: "People addicted to drugs often commit crime to feed their habit.

"Indeed, many of our most prolific burglars and those responsible for vehicle crime across the two counties are users," he said.

Sergeant Adams said: "If people provide information, we will act on it.

"And I would rather have anonymous information, than no information at all."

He urged people concerned about the possible misuse of drugs in the area to call 0845 045 4545, or to call the Crimestoppers number, 0800 555 111.