Police have smashed a drug trafficking syndicate in Tai Po arresting 16 men and two women in an undercover operation.

Police officers of the Regional Crime Unit of New Territories North mounted an operation codenamed "Crosshands" targeting drug trafficking activities in Tai Yuen Estate in Tai Po a week ago.

Officers made the arrests yesterday after buying drugs from the alleged traffickers. Eleven transactions were made.

Nine men were arrested in a park outside Tai Ling House in Tai Yuen Estate and a small amount of suspected heroin was seized.

Investigations led to the arrest of another six men and two women and the seizure of 12 knives and two water pipes on the same day in Tai Po and Sheung Shui.

In a follow-up operation, officers arrested another man in Tai Po today.

The alleged traffickers, aged 17 to 50, were arrested for conspiracy to traffic in dangerous drugs and possession of offensive weapons.

A man and a woman were granted Police bail and the others are being detained for enquiries.

Investigations are continuing.