Some £60,000 and over 10 kilos of Class A drugs were seized by police after a series of raids on homes in Bromley, Bexley, Dartford and elsewhere were carried out by police yesterday (September 22).

Officers involved in the operation arrested eight men aged between 21 to 47-years-old and a 26-year-old woman during the operation, which targeted a number of different properties across South East London, Sussex and Kent.

The arrests were made "for a number of different offences including conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (namely cocaine) and being concerned in the acquisition / retention / concealment / disposal of criminal property (namely cash) under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA)," a spokesperson for the Met Police said today (Wednesday, September 23).

The investigation forms part of ‘Operation Eternal’ - the Met’s operational name to arrest those believed to be using encrypted devices to commit crimes.

Around £60,000 in cash and approximately 10 kilos of Class A drugs were seized during the raids, which took place after police targeted messaging apps with encryption widely used in the criminal underworld.

Speaking after the raids were carried out, Detective Inspector Gail Lilley, from the Met’s 'Flying Squad', said:

"Yesterday’s arrests are a continued and concerted effort by law enforcement to stop and arrest those involved in the supply of Class A drugs who often have, or show, very little sympathy for the chaos or violence that comes with it.

"Organised Criminal Networks (OCNs) that think they can use encrypted devices, such as EncroChat, to smuggle drugs or weapons into and around the country are now looking over their shoulders as they know that police forces throughout the UK are working together to arrest and prosecute them for their crimes.

"Yesterday’s action is a prime example of officers from different police forces coming together to dismantle OCNs and seize their ill-gotten gains."

The warrants were carried out at:

- Abbey Drive, Dartford

- A commercial property in Belvedere, DA17

- Dowells Street, SE10

- St Mary’s Road, Wrotham, Kent

- Cold Blow Crescent, Bexley

- Sheppey Close, Erith

- First Avenue, Bexleyheath

- Wichling Close, Orpington

- Greenways Crescent, Shoreham

- Foredown Drive, Portslade

- Glenfalls Avenue, Brighton

- May Road, Brighton