West Street was closed off for a dramatic arrest yesterday afternoon, one of several across Brighton and Hove made as part of co-ordinated drugs raids.
Sussex Police officers have raided six properties in Brighton and Hove and arrested 10 people for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
The force said they targeted members of the Brighton and Hove’s Albanian community, while stressing that the majority of their countrymen are not involved in crime and making a positive contribution to the city
One witness to the arrest in West Street said: “They followed a car and then stopped the driver outside Wetherspoons and arrested him, then searched his car and took some stuff away. There were loads of police and a few undercover cars too.”
Another said: “I had to turn my car around as they had completely blocked the road. The last thing I saw was a load of them running crazy fast around the cars. There were probably around five cars raced past me to get there and more sounded like they were on their way.”
The force said: “The operation was carried out on Tuesday (7 June) targeting individuals at addresses in Pool Valley, Preston Grange, Donald Hall Road, Regency Mews and London Road, Brighton, and Hove Park Villas, in Hove, who are believed to involved in the supply of class A drugs in Brighton and Hove.
“Two men aged 23, two aged 21 and others aged 35, 34, 32, 28, 42, 26 were all arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
“A 57-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of an immigration offence. They are currently in custody.”
Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp said: “We have targeted a group of individuals within the Albanian community who we believe are involved in the supply of class A drugs.
“We understand that the majority of Albanians working in the city are contributing to the community and economy and do not want these groups to be selling drugs within their community.
“By working together we can deter groups like this from operating in our city.”
Anyone with information is asked to phone Sussex Police on 101, email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
