THOUSANDS of pounds worth of drugs were seized during police raids on suspected dealers.

Officers from across the UK have been tackling London drugs gangs selling in counties including Sussex.

It is part of a campaign to target “county lines” dealing, where London ringleaders use mobile phone lines in a bid to avoid being caught.

In Sussex, there have been 29 arrests and £15,000 worth of drugs seized, as well as 47 mobile phones and 13 weapons, mostly knives.

The Argus:

Police also visited 68 addresses in Sussex to check on vulnerable people and addicts who are at risk of being “cuckooed”, where dealers force their way in and use homes as bases to sell drugs.

At Brighton station stop and search powers were used in a joint operation with British Transport Police.

Two arrests were made for drugs offences, and one suspect was also found in possession of a large hunting knife.

Read more on The Argus: Five arrests in police day of action over knife crime

A 16-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire was given help and support because she was at risk of being exploited by drugs gangs.

This month police also put in place safeguarding for five other people at risk of exploitation in Sussex.

On September 17 police raided an address in Church Road, Hove where a man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of possessing cannabis and cocaine with intent to supply.

The Argus:

Drugs with a street value worth an estimated £10,000 were seized.

In Horsham on September 19 prevention officers executed a warrant at an address in the town.

Three arrests were made for drugs possession, and drugs and £500 cash was seized.

On September 15 in Hastings officers executed six simultaneous warrants at addresses across the town and in St Leonards.

Read more on The Argus: Burglary suspects charged and face court summons

Two people were arrested, crack cocaine and about £6,000 in cash was seized, together with £10,000 worth of designer clothing.

Then in a joint operation with the Metropolitan Police, a 20-year-old man was charged for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs in West Sussex after a raid on September 16.

The Argus:

There were also operations in Eastbourne where a woman was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, with heroin and crack cocaine seized.

In Crawley a man was arrested in the town centre on suspicion of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply and for assaulting an officer.

Read more on The Argus: Raids will cut supply of class A drugs in Brighton - police say

Detective Superintendent Stuart Hale said: "Even during the recent lockdown we have been continuing every day to disrupt dealers who try to deal dangerous drugs across our communities and we target those who use children to sell drugs or those who buy drugs from children.

"We investigate and prosecute, working relentlessly and targeting those who would bring harm to local people, including often the most vulnerable."

Keep informed of crime updates on our Facebook group here: Sussex crime and court watch