Drugs were seized from a house in Tipton after a raid by 16 police officers and a sniffer dog.

Bags of cannabis were discovered at the detached home in Tibbington Road after police used a battering ram to break down the door during the swoop last night.

White powder believed to be cocaine was also found in the freezer during a search of the building.

Forensic tests of the substance were being carried out today and no value has yet been put on the haul.

A 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled drugs and possession of a prohibited weapon. He was taken into custody at West Bromwich police station where he has been helping police with their enquiries.

Officers from the Tipton neighbourhood policing team swooped on the address at around 4.30pm after acting on intelligence.

They spent more than three house at the scene searching the house for signs of illegal substances with the help of a specially-trained dog.

A specialist police vehicle capable of driving through garden gates was taken along but officers were able to get into the grounds. Sgt Stephanie Court, from the Tipton neighbourhood policing team, said: “Hopefully this will reassure the community as there have been reports of a lot of activity at the address.

“This sends out a strong message. If people are involved with drugs we will catch up with them.”

Last night’s raid follows a number in the Wednesbury area earlier this week where cannabis farms were uncovered.

Homes in Friar Park Road and Scott Avenue were targeted along with an address at The Furlong.

This was part of Operation Surety II, an ongoing police operation in the Wednesbury area, and linked with this year’s ‘not in my neighbourhood week’ – a Home Office-lead initiative to crack down on crime.