POLICE have smashed a major drugs ring in an operation involving about 500 officers from Scotland Yard.

Officers used a JCB to force their way into the home of one suspect in a series of raids to wipe-out a £100million cocaine empire.

Up to 25 synchronised dawn raids were carried out - the biggest in the force's history


It is believed about 20 people and 100kg of cocaine has been seized as well as weapons.

At least one of the raids was carried out in Molesey at about 5.30am this morning.

Fifteen people were targetted in the swoops who were suspected of being involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.

At one of the addresses, a £3million house owned by a suspect, police used a JCB tractor to gain entry.

A police source said: "We believe these are people who are at the top of Britain's drugs empire.

"We suspect this is a well organised chain of experienced criminals and we are going to dismantle it so that it can't function any more."