18 arrested during targeted action against drug dealers

Raids were conducted in Hastings and Eastbourne earlier this week

Author: Adam GoacherPublished 7th May 2022

A day of action targeting drug dealers across East Sussex has resulted in 18 people being arrested on suspicion of involvement in the supply of Class A drugs.

Dawn raids across Eastbourne, Hastings and London on Wednesday saw 5,000 wraps of Class A drugs being seized, as well as £300,000 in cash and four phones. It's thought the phones were used in the running of county drugs lines between Sussex, Surrey and Norwich.

Chief Superintendent Katy Woolford, divisional commander for East Sussex, said: "This complex and well-coordinated operation has resulted from months of planning and intelligence development, in which our colleagues from London have played a key role.

"This effort has led to a substantial quantity of dangerous Class A drugs being seized, removing them from circulation and protecting people from harm.

"There is much work still to be done, but we believe this activity will significantly affect the ability of groups who seek to bring drugs into our communities."

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