Two people have been charged with drug offences after £650,000 worth of cocaine was discovered during a police operation targeting a Hertfordshire gang.

Detectives from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s specialist organised crime team, Operation Relentless, notified other forces of a vehicle believed to be involved in transporting drugs around the country.

This vehicle, a Mitsubishi ASX, was stopped by police on the M6 in Staffordshire on October 8, with officers discovering more than nine kilograms of cocaine, with a street value of around £650,000.

Linda Lawrence, 57, of Eaton Socon, Cambridgeshire, was arrested and later charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

As enquiries continued, a second person was arrested after a further five kilograms of cocaine was recovered from a property in Baldock on October 21, along with £120,000 in cash.

Jonathan Dunn, 49, of Sears Close, Clifton, Bedfordshire, was arrested and later charged with supplying class A drugs.

Both have been remanded into custody.

A spokesperson from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Operation Relentless team, said: "Our dedicated organised gangs team, Operation Relentless, is constantly monitoring and gathering intelligence on those involved in drugs and violent crime.

"Information from the public is so important and helps us to keep violent gangs out of Hertfordshire. If you have any suspicions about potential drug or gang crime in your area report it to police or anonymously to Crimestoppers."

You can report information online at herts.police.uk/report, via online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact, or by calling the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.