An operation targeting the supply of drugs in Kent has seen 38 arrests made.
More than £65,000 in cash was recovered along with a knuckle duster, an extendable baton, imitation firearms, ammunition, and 12 bladed weapons – including a sword and several machetes.
Several mobile phones, suspected to have been involved in connecting drugs supply networks with users, were also seized.
38 arrests were made, and large amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin were seized.
In total, 24 suspected offenders were charged with 79 separate offences following the concerted county lines clampdown effort between Kent Police and other forces, that ran from June 23 to June 30.
It led to several drugs supply networks across the county being dismantled.
On the first day of the operation (June 23), police detained a man behaving suspiciously in Tunbridge Wells and a search was carried out.
Police recovered deal bags of white powder along with cash and a mobile phone. Further searches led to 30 deal bags of cocaine and more than £2400 in cash being seized.
Vilson Rexhep, 28, of Norman Road, was later charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession with intent to supply cocaine, and possession of criminal property.
The next day (June 24), officers with a warrant seized 50 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin, deal bags of cannabis, various drugs paraphernalia, and two mobile phones. Cocaine suspected to be recently imported was also recovered
Keegan Mascarenhas, 20, of no fixed address, was charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and methamphetamine, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and cannabis and possession of criminal property.
Karl Phipps, 52, of Newnham Street, Chatham, was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and possession with intent to supply cannabis.
Last Wednesday (June 25), a warrant executed at a Faversham property led to the seizure of around 250g of cocaine, two machetes, an imitation firearm and £5000 in cash.
Multiple wraps of class A, deal bags and cannabis were also seized.
Ellis Priest, 20, formerly of Arthur Salmon Close, was charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, possession of an offensive weapon and possession with criminal property.
On the same day, officers seized several wraps of class A drugs, more than £1300 in cash and two mobile phones following enquiries at an address in Margate.
Joel Loba, 27, of Westbrook Road, was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin and possession of criminal property.
On Thursday (June 26), two men from Sheerness and a woman from Minster were charged following warrants.
Officers seized around £20,000 in cash and multiple weapons as part of an investigation into the supply of cocaine and cannabis.
Andrew Saunders, 28, of Camellia Road, and Michael Zerafa, 28, of Willis Court, were both charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession of cannabis.
‘The misery that these drugs supply networks bring to communities extends beyond violence and antisocial behaviour…’
Saunders was additionally charged with possession of criminal property and Zerafa was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon.
Gemma Stace, 31, of Windmill Rise, was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, and permitting the use of premises to supply a class A drug.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Rabey said: “The misery that these drugs supply networks bring to communities extends beyond violence and antisocial behaviour.
“County lines gangs threaten to bring harm to the most vulnerable people in society, by taking advantage of those at risk of exploitation and recruiting them into their sinister activity.
“The outcomes of this operation show our unwavering commitment to stamping out drugs supply networks in Kent.
“Only by disrupting the activity of the dealers can we ensure we tackle the problem at the root, and in removing dangerous weapons and illegal drugs from our streets, we continue to keep our county a safe place in which to live, work and visit.”
