Thirteen arrested after raids in Essex
Drugs and cash were seized by Essex Police
Thirteen people have been arrested on suspicion of drugs offences and money laundering after police raided eight addresses in the south of the county.
The properties in Billericay, Canvey Island, Brentwood and Benfleet are all linked to an organised criminal gang believed to be involved in the distribution of class A drugs.
Officers discovered substantial quantities of drugs - including more than 650 wraps of class A substances found in two cars outside a property in Canvey Island - and recovered approximately ÂŁ100,000 in cash, some of it encased in concrete.
A number of weapons, mobile phones and bags of counterfeit clothing were also seized.
The operation involved officers from the south Disruptor, Operational Support Group, Dog Unit and Community Policing teams. They were joined by members of the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit and anti-counterfeiting officials.
The operation’s coordinator Sergeant Jarvis said the arrests of the eight women and five men will severely limit the group’s ability to function: “We have been gathering intelligence on this group for many months and the arrests today will make a significant impact on the drug trade in south Essex.
“These individuals have links to violence and have gone to extreme lengths to hide the profits of the criminal activity that funds their lifestyles.
“We are working to reduce violent crime and the harm that causes in our community and dismantling the groups that are responsible for selling drugs and spreading fear is a key part of that.”
If you have any information about drug dealing or concerns about suspicious activity linked to the trade in illegal drugs, please call 101.