Knives and more than £30,000 were seized and 27 people were arrested in a police sting at the Dartford Crossing.

Police used Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at fixed sites around the Dartford Crossing on Monday, stopping all suspect vehicles in an effort to apprehend violent criminals transporting drugs in and out of London, Kent and Essex.

Officers from the Met - including the Violent Crime Taskforce, South East Violence Suppression Unit, Operation Venice, Dogs Support Unit, as well as Specialist Crime officers - worked alongside police colleagues from Essex, Kent and British Transport Police.

British Transport Police also conducted intelligence-led patrols on the trains in and out of London, as well as at transport hubs on key routes, to target those using the rail network to transport drugs.

The operation resulted in 27 arrests for offences including possession of points/blades, possession of drugs, and being concerned in the supply of drugs.

Four knives were recovered and £32,000 in cash was seized, while 14 vehicles were recovered, either due to having no insurance or being stolen.

Detective Chief Inspector Shaun White, of the Metropolitan Police Service, said: “We know that drugs and violence are linked, which is why operations like this one which disrupt drug supply across the capital are so important.

“Officers and teams across the Met are using a range of tactics to tackle the supply of drugs on the streets of London. Officers are working hard to stop Organised Crime Groups importing drugs into the UK; specialist teams are targeting those managing the supply – exploiting young and vulnerable people to transport the commodity across the UK – and operations like this are identifying those responsible for distributing these substances on the streets. There is often a fine line between suspect and victim in these circumstances, and specialist officers supported us throughout this operation.

“I would like to extend my thanks to all those who were involved and who have showed their unwavering dedication to tackling violence. Our work does not stop - we will continue to use tactics such as ANPR and all other lawful powers available to us to target violent crime in London.”

Detective Superintendent Mike Worrall, of the Kent Police Chief Constable’s Crime Squad, said: “County lines gang members cause great harm within our communities and we are committed to tackling the threats posed by those involved in this type of serious criminality.

“Kent Police takes a zero tolerance approach to those who prey on the vulnerable for their own financial gain, and who cause misery to others through exploitation, intimidation and sometimes extreme violence. We do not stand for it and have teams of experienced officers who are dedicated to dismantling drug supply.

“Tackling drug dealing is a responsibility shared by many police forces and other organisations across the county, and operations such as this show how we are committed to working with our neighbouring forces to help bring serious criminals to justice.”

Read more: all the latest news from Dartford.