Police in one county have seized a loaded rifle, drugs and stolen cars and made 16 arrests during an investigation into “cross-border crime”.

Bedfordshire Police said officers were involved in a “local arm” of a national operation.

Detectives said several people have been charged with a variety of crimes.

A senior detective said the police force was targeting organized crime.

“This crackdown was a collaborative approach with other forces to identify and apprehend serious criminals who use road networks to commit organized crime linked to drug, gang and gun lines in the county,” said Det. Ch Insp James Panter, who oversaw the Bedfordshire branch. operation.

“Using a range of overt and covert tactics, we have successfully apprehended a number of suspects for a wide range of offenses which underpin some of the worst crimes to blight Bedfordshire.

“In one case, he was arrested just 20 minutes after a car was reported stolen, and in another we recovered a loaded shotgun following a stolen vehicle chase.

“Those accused now face trial while our inquiries into a number of other related investigations will continue.”

In a statement, Bedfordshire Police said 16 arrests were made and more than 100 packages of Class A drugs and four stolen cars were seized.

“Following the arrests, officers secured a number of violent crime charges, including domestic assault, death threats, strangulation and assault on an emergency worker,” the statement said.

“Charges have also been brought in relation to burglaries, vehicle thefts and shoplifting.”