DRUGS and ammunition have been recovered after a UK wide operation involving three police forces was put into action to tackle organised crime.

The operation, which involved a special North West Regional Crime Unit, Titan, saw police target 10 properties under warrant in Ayrshire, Cumbernauld, Cheshire and North Wales on Thursday.

With the support of officers from Police Scotland, Cheshire Police and North Wales Police, the properties were searched as part of a long running investigation into the supply of Class A drugs.

Detectives from Ayrshire Division and Locality Policing Team officers from North Ayrshire, assisted colleagues from south of the border with the operation in Kilwinning and Stevenston which resulted in several arrests.

Nine people were arrested for their alleged involvement in the supply of Class A drugs.

In Scotland, a 41-year-old man from Stevenston, two men, 42 and 47, from Kilwinning and a man, 44, from Cumbernauld were arrested.

Police said ammunition was also recovered together with 30kg of what is believed to be cannabis resin and 240kg of mixing agent used in the production of controlled drugs

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Sommerville, from Ayrshire Division, said “This operation is as a result of close cooperation with law enforcement colleagues throughout the UK and reinforces our commitment to tackling organised crime and the supply of illegal drugs in Ayrshire.

"We will continue to work with local communities and with our law enforcement colleagues to disrupt the supply of drugs and arrest those responsible for causing untold harm."

Detective Inspector Paul McVeigh, from Titan, said: "Titan exists to tackle and take down the most serious, hardened and organised criminals who pose the more serious threat to the communities. But we cannot do this work alone and we are grateful for our colleagues, particularly those at Police Scotland, for assisting and supporting us during this wide-ranging and ongoing investigation.

"Our message to those involved in drug supply is that you cannot escape justice and there are no borders, we will work with other forces to relentlessly pursue those profiting from serious organised crime."

Anyone with information regarding drugs in their communities should contact Police Scotland through 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.