DRUGS officers took the fight to the doorstep of an alleged dealer in a mission to clean up Worcester's streets, tearing into a Birmingham tower block flat with a chainsaw.

Detectives from Worcester decided to cut off the supply of crack cocaine and heroin at one potential source - in central Birmingham - as they sliced their way into a suspected dealer's flat during a dawn raid inside a tower block.

Worcester News: ACTION: Officers smashed their way into the flat in Birmingham as they sought to cut off the supply of heroin and crack cocaine into Worcester ACTION: Officers smashed their way into the flat in Birmingham as they sought to cut off the supply of heroin and crack cocaine into Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

The South Worcestershire County Lines team, based at Worcester Police Station, had intelligence a suspected drug dealer linked to County Lines dealing was linked to the supply of class A drugs in Worcester city centre and St John's.

Drugs are considered to be behind many other crimes in Worcester - including shoplifting and burglaries as drug users seek to fund their expensive habit.  

Worcester News: MESSAGE: The door was sliced open during the drugs warrant in Rodney Close, Birmingham MESSAGE: The door was sliced open during the drugs warrant in Rodney Close, Birmingham (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

At dawn on Wednesday - at around 7.15am - officers in full protective equipment including helmets, balaclavas and body armour were climbing the stairs of the block before the chainsaw roared and rumbled into life.

READ MORE: Live: we join police on chainsaw raid at flat of suspected drug dealer 

Within seconds the officers were carving their way through the door of a fifth-floor flat in Wells Tower in Rodney Close, Birmingham, shouting 'police!' as cries and shouts of alarm came from within.

Worcester News: ARREST: The arrest of the suspect as police investigate drug dealing in the city centre and St John's in Worcester ARREST: The arrest of the suspect as police investigate drug dealing in the city centre and St John's in Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Moments later a 22-year-old suspect was being led down the stairs in handcuffs towards a waiting police van, ready to be transported to custody at Worcester Police Station.

He was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of crack and heroin, both class A drugs.

The suspected dealer was immediately subject to a strip search at Worcester Police Station.

DC Josh Hunt said similar proactive warrants would be executed in future.

"This is business as usual for the South Worcestershire County Lines Team who will not let borders prevent them from bringing offenders to justice," he said.

The search of the premises involved the seizure of various phones which will have to be interrogated to find any evidence of drug supply.

Drugs were also found at the flat which will need to be analysed.

After the dynamic entry, efforts now switch to building a criminal case against the suspect. Even a pushchair was searched. Two women and a child were in the flat at the time.