POLICE swarmed pubs and arrested four people on suspicion of possessing drugs.

The officers were backed up by riot police and cops drafted in from as far away as Colchester as they carried out the night-long operation in Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham on Friday night.

They were also backed by two drugs dogs, a licensing officer from Thurrock Council and officers from Kent police with an Ion Track machine which can tell within seconds if there are any traces of drugs on a person or premises.

The first pub to be hit was the Old Court House in King Street, Stanford-le-Hope.

The drugs dogs picked out two men who were arrested on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs.

Both were taken to Basildon police station and strip searched where one was found to have several wraps of cocaine.

During the evening officers also hit the Inn on Green, the George and Dragon, the Railway Tavern and the Catcracker in Stanford-le-Hope, as well as the Pompadour, in Corringham High Street, and the Anchor in Civic Square, Tilbury .

They searched all of the pubs, including toilets and beer gardens, and the Ion Track machine found traces of illegal substances in all of them.

TWO MEN, aged 25 and 29 both from Stanford-le-Hope, were arrested in the Old Court House on suspicion of possessing drugs and were cautioned. A 39-year-old Tilbury man arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs was released on bail until January. Details of the fourth man are not yet known.