LILLE, France: Police in northern France said on Monday they had cracked a ring of cocaine smugglers and arrested 18 people.

More than 180 officers, as well as sniffer dogs and helicopters were involved in the swoop in the town of Ostricourt, a police statement said.

The drug was “practically (sold) in broad daylight” in some Ostricourt neighborhoods, police told AFP.

Investigations into the trafficking ring began more than a year ago.