POLICE targeting Yardie drug gangs in Newport raided more homes in Newport yesterday.

The Argus accompanied officers as they targeted people connected with Jamaican organised crime - known as Yardies - in the second series of raids this week.

On Tuesday morning 250 officers from Gwent, Dyfed Powys, South Wales and Gloucestershire raided 15 addresses in Newport as part of Operation Corolla. Yesterday five more addresses were raided and a further seven people, including one Jamaican male, were arrested.

The intiative was set up to stop a 'business' drug trafficking ring from operating in the city. Police say some of the 25 people arrested in the two raids are known to have been working as part of organised gangs of Jam-aican drug dealers.

About 30 officers were sent out to various addresses and the Argus accompanied police as they forced entry at one of the addresses in Ringland, using a specialist drug dog to search the premises.

Nine of those arrested on Tuesday were due to appear before Cwmbran magis-trates today on drugs charges.

In May the Argus revealed police were warning about Yardie gangs heading into Gwent from Bristol and London.

Superintendent Nigel Russell said: "We hit them hard and early, if we had waited another six months to a year they would have been more deeply entrench-ed. We will use all our power to combat illegal drugs."

Recently more than £500,000 has been given to Gwent in the crackdown on drugs and street crime.

Top police officers and local MPs called for extra resources to fight the alarming increase in drug dealing. Gwent police thanked the Assembly and UK government for their support and extra cash.

In May the Argus revealed police were warning Yardie gangs were heading into Newport from Bristol and London.