Ten people have been arrested after homes were raided for drugs.

Operation Fundamental is a response to the critical level of substance related deaths after Dundee was named the drug death capital of Europe.

The operation is being shared with partner agencies to enable them to offer support to vulnerable individuals who may become known during the course of the investigation.

Police are also being joined by officers from the National Crime Agency and will be supported by Dundee Alcohol and Drugs Partnership and Dundee City Council.

The crackdown builds on the significant amount of drugs activity in the Dundee and wider Tayside area during recent months.

Ten people were arrested following a series of raids across the city on Monday.

Since July this year, there have been 73 people arrested for drug related offences, 59 search warrants executed and more than £32,000 in cash recovered.

In addition, 14.6kg of heroin, almost 24,000 diazepam and benzodiazepines tablets and more than 16,000 untested tablets have been seized.

Chief superintendent Andrew Todd said : "We're acutely aware of the impact that drugs misuse has on our communities and we're committed to work alongside our partners to tackle it.

"We work closely with other organisations including health, social work and housing to address the wide range of issues that lead to and result from substance misuse.

"However, enforcement is also an important part and Police Scotland will continue to use intelligence to target those who are blighting our communities by dealing drugs.

"Operation Fundamental has received a considerable amount of support from Police Scotland specialist services from right across the country.

"It shows that in addition to our work locally we can exert a significant show of strength, calling upon our colleagues to assist in our Operations locally."

Dundee Partnership chairman, Councillor John Alexander said: "The sale of drugs in our communities causes untold misery for families and individuals.

"Drug abuse is a stain on this city preventing people from making the most of their lives.

"It rips families apart - causing domestic violence and the neglect of children.

"With the move to target those who pedal drugs in our communities, there will be a ripple effect for all the Dundee partners who are committed to making our city a safer and healthier place for all.

"We need to ensure that we can target the appropriate support to people who are affected by the operation.

"We will help people to make better life choices, while also offering protection and shelter to those caught up in the aftermath.

"I have been impressed by the courageous work of the Dundee Drugs Commission, which is exploring the unacceptable levels of drug-related deaths in our city.

"It is up to all the partner agencies across Dundee to ensure that this operation is a success on every level - so that it reduces crime while also improving the lives of vulnerable people.

"We all want to see our communities benefiting as the flow of drugs is choked at source."

Detective Superintendent Robert Dow added: "Today's Operation will hopefully send out a message to drug dealers in Dundee and indeed any community that drug dealing will not be tolerated.

"Our local officers have been supported in the Operation by specialist services and officers from across Scotland and we'll continue to throw our full combined strength behind tackling the scourge of drugs.

"We recognise that people in our communities feel very strongly about the problems that drug misuse and dealing cause in their areas and we'll continue to use intelligence and all at our disposal to take down the dealers and serious and organised crime gangs who are behind it."