Rhyl was a focal point of the police raids

A force spokesman confirmed that 22 people had been detained, and warrants were still out for others.

Police teams raided houses in Rhyl, Prestatyn, Abergele, Llanfair Tal Haearn and Bagillt.

Suspects are being interviewed at various police stations.

Warrants were also issued for addresses in the Merseyside, West Yorkshire and Devon and Cornwall Force areas.

Carefully planned

Officers will be revealing more details of the raids, which are codenamed Operation Decade - a reference to the force's 10-year drugs strategy.

The operation, which had been planned over several weeks, began at 0600GMT on Wednesday with a briefing for 200 officers at the force's headquarters in Colwyn Bay.

Teams were then deployed into personnel carriers, cars and vans to execute the warrants, forcing their way into some properties.

Within the hour, the first suspects were being brought in for questioning.

A police officer is being seconded to work with North Wales Health Authority - the first deployment of its kind in Wales.

Sergeant Stephen Seel will work with the North Wales Health Authority on drugs and alcohol initiatives and community safety issues.

Police say there are mutual concerns about the protection and care of vulnerable people in the community which would benefit from closer cooperation.

The force has teamed up with the authority to issue a special helpline for heroin users : 01745 338868.