Crack cocaine and heroin with a street value of £5,000 has been seized by police at a flat in Exeter.

Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police's pro-active squad raided the property on Wednesday also finding £2,000 in cash.

Two men from London were arrested along with a local 'street runner' whose flat was allegedly being used as their base.

The pro-active squad said on Twitter: "Misuse of drugs warrant in Exeter yesterday. Crack and heroin with a street value of £5,000 seized, £2,000 in cash.

"Two males from London arrested alongside a local male, acting as the street runner, whose flat was being used as their base."

Police indicated that that the cuckooing had allegedly taken place at the Exeter flat.

What is cuckooing?

Cuckooing is a tactic typically used by drugs gangs seeking to expand their operations beyond the reaches of their home turf.

After initial work in the area establishing people willing to buy their heroin and cocaine, they strike when some of their customers are unable to pay off their drug debts.

With the customer indebted to their suppliers, they are forced to let a gang representative live with them - effectively taking over that home to then use as a base for their operation in the town.

As well as consolidating the gang’s power in the area by establishing a permanent hub, it also allowed those higher up the gang chain to reduce their own risk of getting caught because the figure on the front line of the network was the street dealer now living in the area.