DRUGS, illegal vapes, cash and multiple burner phones were seized as part of a huge police operation which resulted in more than ten arrests during a day of action on Wednesday, the Chronicle can reveal.

A total of eight warrants were conducted across the day, which was part of South Yorkshire Police’s Operation Duxford.

Seven warrants were solely centred around intelligence gathered in connection to drug supply, officers confirmed.

A total of 140 cannabis plants were seized from a property on Welland Crescent, Elsecar, while £20,000 in cash, burner phones and a £20,000 Rolex were taken from Edward Street, Barnsley, where a 30-year-old man was arrested for possession with intent to supply, money laundering and rape of a child.

Another raid - on Kingsway, Mapplewell - saw a 39-year-old woman being arrested for possession with intent to supply.

A 23-year-old man from Hoyland was also arrested following a joint warrant conducted alongside Trading Standards officers, who found a large quantity of illegal vapes and cigarettes, as well as a large knife.

Temporary Chief Inspector Richard Mangham said: “Operation Duxford is aimed at three priorities - antisocial behaviour, organised crime groups and domestic abuse.

“We had officers out conducting domestic arrest packages and we had officers conducting warrants, which we’ve secured due to the Misuse of Drugs Act.

“Officers were out in the community in areas with high-levels of crime and antisocial behaviour.

“It’s a culmination of partnership work and community work.

“We had meetings, community stalls and engagement events and through that we generate intelligence from our communities.

“From that intelligence we secured the warrants for Operation Duxford.

“We’ve also been working with immigration services in the last few weeks, identifying locations that we think are vulnerable to human trafficking.

“Any results from the warrants will go to our neighbourhood teams - and any other additional work streams that come from investigations will lead into our problem-solving plans, which will hopefully lead to prosecutions in the future.”

Duxford, which makes its way across South Yorkshire, has been responsible for hundreds of arrests over the years, huge cash seizures under the Proceeds of Crime Act and drugs being removed from the streets.

A police spokesperson added: “Once again we received support from a wide range of teams within the force to help us carry out a full day’s worth of activity, from our local neighbourhood policing teams, tactical support group and mounted to name just a few, as well as our local partners including Barnsley Council and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.

“Our days of action like these allow us to focus on specific issues we know are affecting the residents of Barnsley, so that we can take those involved in crime within our local communities off the streets and ensure that the town is a safer place to live and work.

“Operation Duxford also provides an opportunity for officers to engage with members of the community and find out what their concerns are.

“We are always happy to listen and provide advice and support where we can.”