A CRACKDOWN on drug-related crime swung into action across Hampshire today amid fears that Southampton was becoming a haven for Yardie gangs.

Operation Trojan aims to reduce the number of knife and firearm offences related to drug dealing across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The Daily Echo can reveal currently around 80 per cent of the county's drug-related crime happens in Southampton.

In the past few months, police have arrested nearly 50 people in the city for wide-ranging drugs and weapons offences.

Today's launch comes less than a month after Home Secretary David Blunkett voiced his concern that "cities like Southampton" were attracting vicious Jamaican gangsters.

Hampshire police have refused to formally acknowledge the existence of Yardie gangs but have confirmed a recent rise in so-called "black on black" crime in Southampton.

The new campaign is based on the Metropolitan police's Operation Trident, widely seen as an effort to combat Yardie crime.

In almost three years, Trident has been hugely successful in reducing the number of black shootings across the capital.

Operation Trojan will have the wider scope of dealing with all drug-related violence, not just firearms incidents, in a bid to nip the spreading social phenomena in the bud.

Det Chief Insp Colin Smith, leading the campaign, said: "These crimes tend to be committed by young black men of Caribbean origin, who have recently moved into our communities from London and elsewhere.

"These men are outsiders who use violence and the threat of violence to infiltrate drug markets, particularly those involving heroin and crack cocaine.

"The level of violence that goes along with this activity can be extreme in nature and can involve the use of firearms."

Southampton has witnessed increasing violence and intimidation in recent months, including a fatal stabbing and double shooting, as well as the recovery of drugs and firearms. Only last week, seven people were arrested in a police operation in which half a kilo of crack cocaine was recovered.

Although officially launched today, Operation Trojan's specialist team was established several months ago with the aim of disrupting drug dealers' activities and prosecuting the perpetrators.

Detectives based at Hulse Road divisional police headquarters in Southampton are working closely with the city council, community groups and other local authorities across the county.

Information to Operation Trojan on 0845 045 4545, or the Southern Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.