Operation Savana's principal focus was on local drug dealers and traffic enforcement.

Search warrants were executed and a special automatic number plate recognition camera was brought from Perth.

Also in town from the metropolitan area were members of the gang crime squad and organised crime squad, as well as Wheatbelt Detectives officers and local general duties police.

“Our aim was to create a hostile environment for those involved in dealing in drugs and to disrupt their activities,” Acting Senior Sergeant Shane Grey, acting officer-in-charge of the Northam police station, said.

The drug side of the operation took place last Tuesday and Wednesday while traffic enforcement lasted for four days from Tuesday.

On Tuesday 268 random breath tests were carried out just west of the town, resulting in nine cautions, one breach of a restraining order, seven infringements, six work orders and five other traffic-related charges – an unregistered vehicle, a false number plate, driving while under suspension, wrong class of licence and refusing to supply a sample of breath for testing.

Police had a booze bus parked in a truck lay-by while the testing was carried out by 10 officers with four supervisors.

It was something of a production line.

Wednesday was much quieter with 37 random breath tests.

Seventeen infringements were issued, there was one case of driving without a licence and nine cautions.

Things heated up on Thursday with 369 random breath tests carried out.

Four alcohol-related charges were laid, eight infringements issued and one driver was charged with reckless driving and failing to stop when called upon.

Three work orders were issued and 42 cautions.

One vehicle was seized.

Detectives executed 13 search warrants on premises suspected of harbouring drugs.

All up 25 people will be summoned to face 28 charges.

A quantity of amphetamines and cannabis was seized.

However the detectives' big drug break came the Thursday before.

They executed a search warrant on a Kennedy Street house and discovered 56 cannabis plants, 140 grams of cannabis and a quantity of unlicensed ammunition.

A 39-year-old woman has been charged with cultivating a prohibited plant and possessing cannabis while a 39-year-old-man has been charged with possessing unlicensed ammunition.

Over the whole of Operation Savana, police came into contact with 1384 people.