Ten people were arrested this morning following raids on ten different properties involving 100 officers

Officers raid a property in Newham (credit Met Police)

Eight men and two women are in custody after more than 100 officers simultaneously raided ten properties.

The raids across Newham, Enfield, Tilbury, Essex and Ashford in Kent this morning (Wednesday 29th) were part of a nine-month Metropolitan Police investigation into the inner workings of a large gang based in Newham.

The group are linked to the supply of crack cocaine and heroin in and around East London and the surrounding areas.

Detective Sergeant Danny Cooper, who led the investigation, said: “We do not tolerate violence in our communities and we will be relentless in tracking down those responsible for causing it and will bring them to justice.

“We take the harm these people are causing seriously and know that removing them from our streets is incredibly important to Londoners and to their safety. We will continue to use all available tactics to identify and arrest those responsible for committing these crimes.”

During a search of the properties officers seized approximately seven ounces of crack cocaine; three ounces of heroin; three ounces of cocaine hydrochloride; £15,000 in cash; £30,000 in high value assets, such as Rolex watch; plus one firearm.

The eight men – aged between 21 and 56 – and two women aged 26 and 57, were all arrested on suspicion of conspiring to supply Class A drugs, namely crack cocaine and heroin. 

All ten remain in custody at an East London police station and enquiries continue.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.