DRUG seizures spiked in North Wales last year, with police recording their largest haul for eight years.

The Police Federation of England and Wales warned that a "proliferation of illicit drugs on the streets of the UK" is being used to fund serious crime, following the first rise in seizures across the two countries for seven years.

North Wales Police recorded 2,034 drug seizures in 2018-19, according to figures released by the Home Office.

That was a rise of 71 per cent compared to the previous year, and the highest number since 2010-11 when there were 2,181.

The figures mean there were 2,913 seizures for every million residents, higher than the rate of 2,432 per million across England and Wales.

Class A drugs – those considered to be the most harmful, such as heroin, cocaine and crack – accounted for 16% of seizures last year.

The most frequently seized drug was cannabis (1,257) followed by cocaine (231).

DI Lee Boycott said : “ The seizures are, in part, an indication of the success we are having in targeting drug crime. Trafficking and especially County Lines dealing causes misery on the streets and corruption in society. These investigations remain a priority for us in our efforts to make the environment hostile to drug dealers. We have effective force-wide teams who target those involved in this activity, but we need the continued support of the community and I would urge anyone with information to contact your local police team on 101 or report it autonomously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”

Across England and Wales, the number of drug seizures increased for the first time since 2011-12.

Police and border forces recorded 153,000 seizures, an increase of more than 16,000 in one year, but still far lower than the peak of 241,000 seen in 2008-09.

Simon Kempton, operational policing lead for the Police Federation, said the figures demonstrate "the importance of all law enforcement agencies in the UK working in a joined-up way" to tackle organised crime.

He added: "These figures also reflect the huge number of drugs which are available, as both prices and purity of drugs available on the street don’t seem to have been affected.

"This is a concern which underlines how there is a proliferation of illicit drugs on the streets of the UK, all of which goes to fund serious organised crime."