Brighton detectives have charged two more men with drugs offences as part of a continuing investigation into alleged conspiracy to supply heroin in the city.
Paul Shannon 58, of Compass Court, Eastbourne, appeared in custody at Brighton Magistrates Court on 6 April, charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and possession of heroin with intent to supply. He was remanded in custody for an initial hearing at Lewes Crown Court on 30 April.
Shannon had been stopped by Warwickshire officers as he was driving south on the M40 on 3 April. One kilo of heroin, with a potential estimated street value of some £100,000 was seized from the car.
He was transported to Brighton where he was interviewed and charged by officers from the Brighton and Hove Organised Crime Team.
Shannon is the eighth person to be charged with conspiracy to supply heroin in Brighton, following police raids in Brighton, Eastbourne and Liverpool on Wednesday 24 March.
A ninth man was charged today. Ian Gerald Frost, 47, of St Michael’s Place, Brighton, was charged with conspiracy to supply heroin. In addition he was charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs in relation to £2,500 worth of morphine sulphate found in his possession when he attended Brighton custody suite by appointment. He is due to appear before Brighton Magistrates Court on 9 April.
To date 19 people have now been arrested with nine people charged and 10 on police bail. This follows 10 months work by the Organised Crime Team as part of Operation Wildwood, and more charges are anticipated over the coming weeks.
Lea Smith, 44, Natal Rd, Brighton; Kingsley Walls 42, Langley Crescent, Brighton; Lee Mack, 48, Sheepcote Valley Caravan Park, Brighton; Ronnie Edwards 48, Chiddingly Close, Brighton; Sean Davidson 47, Downhill View, Brighton; and Arthur Jones 53, Downs Avenue, Eastbourne, appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court on 25 March and were remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on 17 April.
Julie Coltard, 41, Langley Crescent, Brighton, was released on court bail to appear on the same date as the other six.
A 40-year old man, a 43-year old man, two other men, aged 29 and 62, and two other women, aged 62 and 28, arrested on suspicion of conspiracy in Brighton, have been interviewed and released on police bail until 13 May.
A 47-year old man and a 49-year old woman, both from Liverpool, arrested on suspicion of the same offence, were interviewed and released on police bail until 14 May.
