Met officers make seven arrests in west London as part of investigation into online drug dealing ring

Specialist Met officers raided eight properties in west London as part of an ongoing investigation into the sale of cannabis online. They also seized in excess of £10,000 in cash, as well as drugs estimated to be in excess of £1 million in street value.

As part of the investigation, officers have established that a criminal group are using a website to sell cannabis across the country. The scale of the operation is believed to be vast - and it is alleged that the criminal network are making up to £500,000 a month from the proceeds of the illegal drugs trade.

The arrests come as part of a Met-wide focus on using data and technology to target resources to tackle the issues that matter to London's communities the most, including drug dealing.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Reynolds said: "We are determined to crackdown on those who brazenly flout the law and seek to make colossal amounts of money from the illegal drugs trade.

"These arrests come after a lengthy investigation carried out by a team of dedicated police officers, who have left no stone unturned in their pursuit to dismantle criminal groups operating in London.

"Drug criminality is often the driving force behind violence and anti-social behaviour across our streets and it is only right that we do everything in our power to tackle this type of crime - including online."

Seven men - aged between 20 and 55 - were arrested as part of raids on Wednesday, 27 March across west London, including in Ealing and Hounslow. They remain in custody for questioning.