Police arrested 23 suspects allegedly involved in a dog-fighting and drug trafficking ring operating across Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay area in Florida.

Footage of the raid carried out on July 18 shows dozens of dogs living in cramped kennels.

Officers announced the arrests at a joint press conference on July 24.

Dubbed 'Operation Snow Cap' for the narcotics investigation and 'Operation Pedigree' for the dog-fighting ring probe, the operations, launched in August last year, targeted a drug trafficking organisation distributing narcotics throughout the region.

Simultaneously, authorities uncovered a network involved in illegal dog-fighting activities.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said: 'We've got many investigations just like this that are in the pipeline.'

While St. Petersburg Police Department Chief Anthony Holloway warned other criminals: 'We have time on our side. Sooner or later, we're going to come knocking on your door.'

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said the joint efforts were aimed at eradicating dangerous drugs like fentanyl in communities across the state.