Seventeen men and five women were arrested on Thursday afternoon in a police crackdown on drug-related crimes, the Norwegian news agency NTB reported.

In total, about 40 suspects for drug crime have been arrested in the Norwegian capital city since September 30 when the crack-down started.

Thursday's raids were carried out at different locations in the Oslo districts of Toyen, Kampen and Ensjoe.

Drug selling in Oslo is an issue that creates insecurity for residents.

Around 60 plainclothes policemen took part in the action to arrest people believed to be linked to sales of mainly hashish.