SWINDON DRUGS HOTLINE: DRUG squad officers have more dealers in their sights thanks to information provided by the Swindon Drugs Hotline.

Officers are planning to target the homes of seven suspected heroin and crack cocaine dealers in the Swin-don area in the next few weeks.

The busts follow last week's operation which saw officers raid 19 addresses across town in a series of early morning raids.

The raids currently being planned will be carried out as part of the on-going Operation Defy initiative aimed at drying up the supply of drugs in Swindon. Det Sgt Gerry Watkins said: "These are people we have been looking at for some time.

"We have had quite a few calls from residents on the hotline.

"We will be looking for heroin, crack cocaine and drugs paraphernalia. There may be arrests it depends on how successful we are."

Further details of the raids, which will involve 48 officers, are being kept under wraps.

The Evening Advertiser joined forces with the police to launch the Swindon Drugs Hotline a month ago.

Just over 120 people have so far called the confidential phone line with information about suspected drug pushers.

Intelligence from the hotline played a vital role in helping detectives plan last Wednesday's raids, which resulted in 16 arrests. One person has already been jailed as a result of the raids.

DS Watkins urged anyone with suspicions about dealing to call the phone line, which goes straight into Swindon Police Station.

He said: "I would like people to be more vigilant and call us with their concerns.

"People should not be frightened, the line is confidential.

"It is more helpful if people leave their contact details so we can speak to them.

"They can trust us to keep these details confidential.

"Swindon will be a better place if we stop the supply of drugs."