FOUR men have been arrested in Redditch after knives and drugs were seized during a pre-planned search of their vehicle.

The men, all aged in their 20s, were stopped by officers from the Operations Patrol Unit while travelling on the A441 at 10.20am on Friday, January 5.

Officers found a quantity of what is suspected to be controlled drugs and two nine-inch knives were also seized.

All four men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs.

The operation was intelligence-led and conducted using tactics designed to prevent a vehicle from fleeing the scene.

For safety reasons, the A441 dual carriageway was temporarily closed whilst officers conducted the vehicle stop.

Four Operations Patrol Unit vehicles were involved - supported by plain clothes detectives - while an armed response vehicle (ARV) was also on the scene.

Sergeant Lee Baker, of West Mercia Police's Operations Patrol Unit, said: "The message to those transporting drugs into Worcestershire is that we will use these robust tactics to disrupt and destroy supply lines.

"We will continue to act on intelligence and conduct these operations at times and places of our choosing."

All the suspects are from the Birmingham area.

The items found in the vehicle were seized and removed for forensic examination.