A SUSPECTED drug dealer was caught asleep in bed but soon had a rude awakening as officers raided his shared house and seized cash, drugs and a large hunting knife.

The suspect, who was led away in handcuffs, is believed to be involved in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine in Worcester - including in the city centre and St John's.

Worcester News: WARRANT: Officers were equipped to force entry if needed but used a more subtle approach this time WARRANT: Officers were equipped to force entry if needed but used a more subtle approach this time (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Because of a proactive stance by Worcester detectives, based at Castle Street in Worcester, the arrest took place in Moseley in Birmingham as officers seek to shore up the county borders against the dealers - and deter others from making similar journeys.

The warrant was executed at 6.50am today (Thursday) when many people were still in bed, including the suspect they had come to arrest.

Worcester News: A suspect is led away by police, suspected of dealing class A A suspect is led away by police, suspected of dealing class A (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

It is the second such arrest to take place recently as part of a drive to cut the supply of class A drugs into Worcester from bigger cities, particularly Birmingham.

The ambition of Worcester's County Lines team is to cut off the supply of drugs at the source - before they reach Worcester's streets and parks or flow out to other towns such as Malvern, Pershore, Evesham and Droitwich. 

This time the warrant was executed at an HMO in Belle Walk in Moseley, Birmingham.

Worcester News: SEIZED: The large hunting knife was seized by officers in a communal lounge within the HMO they raided SEIZED: The large hunting knife was seized by officers in a communal lounge within the HMO they raided (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Officers managed to gain entry quietly - without the use of force - in contrast to a chainsaw raid on a Birmingham tower block a little over two weeks ago.

READ MORE: Tower block arrest of suspected dealer linked to Worcester County Lines 

READ MORE: Upskirting incident - police issue photo of man 

But once they were inside, there were loud shouts of 'police' as the 22-year-old suspect was apprehended in his bedroom.

Worcester News: SEARCH: A detective checks inside a fridge during the warrant SEARCH: A detective checks inside a fridge during the warrant (Image: James Connell/Newsquest) He was handcuffed and led away into a waiting police van before being transferred to Worcester custody. He was arrested for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

A large hunting knife was found in a communal lounge in the semi-detached house which is shared by several tenants.

The main focus of the search, however, was the defendant's bedroom as officers looked in drawers and under the bed, seizing a quantity of cannabis, cash and a phone which will have to be forensically analysed as officers build a case. Officers even looked in a fridge in the kitchen.

DS Luke Papps said: "Drugs and violence go hand in hand. It is our primary objective to remove not just drugs but weapons."

Officers also paid a visit to the suspect's mum's house elsewhere in Birmingham to carry out a further search.

The warrant is linked to another raid - that one involving a chainsaw - which took place at Wells Tower in Rodney Close in Birmingham on Wednesday, May 24. 

A suspect in that arrest has been bailed while enquiries continue.