Blitz nets drug dealers

Almost 270 people have been charged with 548 offences after a police crackdown on drug dealers in regional WA.

The operation ran between March and June, with every regional police station focusing on drug activity in their local community.

Police executed 259 warrants, seizing drugs, drug paraphernalia, weapons and cash.

Weapons seized included loaded shotguns, crossbows, knuckledusters and nunchaku.

A total of 268 people were charged, 56 of them arrested on the spot and 212 issued with summonses.

Police laid 485 drug-related charges as well and 63 other charges relating to offences such as possessing prohibited weapons and stolen property.

In the South West, a 35-year-old Usher man was charged with 16 offences after items including a crossbow, 115 individually wrapped methylamphetamine pipes and drugs were allegedly found in his home and a Bunbury storage unit.

In Carnarvon, a 36-year-old Morgantown man was charged with five offences after the discovery of 1kg of cannabis, as well as stolen items including prawns.

Regional WA Commander Murray Smalpage said the effect of illicit drugs in regional areas was devastating.

"Drugs affect regional areas as much as they do the metropolitan area and in some cases can be much more confronting," he said.

"The impact in smaller communities can be seen in higher rates of violence, poor health and antisocial behaviour."