Four young men have been bailed after they were arrested in dawn drugs raids in South Oxhey.

A 19-year-old man who was also arrested was given a police caution for possession of cannabis.

Hertfordshire Constabulary searched five properties on the estate in an operation targeting drug dealers.

A 16-year-old, two 17-year-olds, a 19-year-old and a 24-year-old, all from South Oxhey, were arrested on suspicion of intent to supply class A drugs and class B drugs.

The 19-year-old was released after being given a police caution for possession of cannabis.

The four other young men have all been bailed on the condition that they return to the police station on September 29.

Officers stormed five addresses in South Oxhey on Wednesday at 7.30am.

Police found nothing at two but arrested five people at three others.

Police sergeant Luke Mitchell said officers are targeting not only young people being used to sell drugs, but those who are "exploiting" and "controlling" them.

Sergeant Mitchell said: "We’ve had some concerns about some low level drug dealing and some young people being used to serve drugs on the street.

"Young people are being used to sell small quantities of drugs on behalf of other people. This operation is on the back of that."

Sergeant Mitchell said this operation is on the back of one carried out a few weeks ago when nine men were arrested for drug offences in South Oxhey.

He said: "This operation is on the back of that. We are targeting low level, young street dealers, but not just them, it’s also the people that are controlling them.

"Maybe young people have got themselves into a bit of debt and they are being used and exploited to go around and sell drugs on other people’s behalf.

"(This) operation is about people exploiting young people." 

He added: "We are taking this very seriously. This is on the back of the public’s information that they provided us with and we acted upon it. If someone has some intelligence they can contact us on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously."