Local police have claimed a major victory following a drugs bust that netted a large amount of cocaine and £30,000 in cash.

The arrest took place as local police leaders were involved in a Richmond borough community meeting with 160 residents this week, where concerns about drug dealing were raised.

An alert – triggered by Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras - was raised with police constables Virk and Clements who were patrolling Hampton Wick on Monday evening.

The arrest took place as local police leaders were involved in a Richmond borough community meeting with 160 residents this week, where concerns about drug dealing were raised.

They were joined by Acting Police Sergeant Fuller and the team managed to track the vehicle through the camera network and ordered the driver to stop.

There was a strong smell of drugs and a search of the vehicle revealed what the police called 'a multitude of little packets, containing more snow than Narnia'. 

A subsequent search of the address of the driver, who claimed to be a law-abiding student, recovered £30,000 in cash.

Richmond Police said: "This was a big hit to the supply of drugs to the South West Basic Command Unit – which covers the borough.

"This chap had clearly been active flying below the radar for some time. Thanks to the initiative, and great thorough work by Response team, a major player has been taken out of circulation, and associated crime will undoubtedly be reduced."