The Metropolitan Police arrested eight people suspected of drug dealing in Southwark and Lambeth Wednesday.

The arrests were made during the early hours of February 13, and followed a further eight arrests on drug-related offences that took place across Bexley and Greenwich in recent days.

In total, six men and two women between the ages of 21 and 58 were taken to a South London police station, police said.

Detective Sergeant Simon Fitzsimmons, of the Met’s Central South Proactive Gangs Unit, said Wednesday: "Drug-related crime has a hugely negative impact on local communities and we are absolutely committed to identifying those involved and bringing them to justice. The warrants this morning demonstrate that we will work tirelessly to crack down on those believed to be committing drugs offences.

"Communities play a vital role in tackling drug crime and its associated violence and I hope this morning's action reassures residents, and we urge anyone with information about crime in their neighbourhood to get in touch."

Officers also seized a large amount of Class A and B drugs (namely crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis) during the operation, the Met said.

A total of ten search warrants were executed Wednesday at residential addresses in Southwark and Lambeth.

In a statement released Wednesday evening, the Met said that illicit drug dealing was "inextricably linked" to the "high proportion of violence we have seen on our streets," and added that it continued to engage in outreach with communities in Lambeth and Southwark in efforts to expand preventative policing in the area.

The Met said: "Tackling violent crime requires strong partnership working. Police often have a role in galvanising a response but it will take sustained and effective partnership working with a truly holistic, preventative approach at grass-roots levels to deal with the complex causes and to create tangible alternatives for our young people, helping them avoid the draw into gangs and violence.

"We want to hear from anyone who may have information about people who are involved in organised drug crime and maybe exploiting young people, putting them into dangerous and vulnerable situations. This information could save lives in the future. Please get in touch."