'Large amount' of suspected laughing gas seized

Three people have been arrested after "large quantities" of suspected laughing gas were seized during an early morning raid, police have said.

Two men, aged 25 and 55, and a 50-year-old woman were held on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class C drugs after officers raided a house on Squirrel Hall Drive in Dewsbury on Thursday.

A total of 27 boxes containing what was believed to be nitrous oxide - the possession of which has been a criminal offence in England and Wales since 2023 - were found at the property, according to West Yorkshire Police.

A large amount of cash was also seized, as well as materials linked to the alleged drugs supply offences, a force spokesperson said.

All of those arrested had since been released under investigation pending ongoing inquiries, they added.

Nitrous oxide is commonly used as a painkiller in medicine and dentistry, but it is frequently used as a recreational drug.

Insp Khalid Sadique, from West Yorkshire Police, said: "Large amounts of illegal class C drugs were seized in this operation with arrests made, and we are continuing to conduct inquiries.

"The illegal supply of drugs and the associated violent crime it so often brings is a blight on communities and tackling this kind of offending remains a priority for us."

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