Dozens of people have been held by police in Sussex as part of a national week-long crackdown on county line drug dealing.
Most of the arrests in Brighton took place in the St James’s Street area in response to local concerns, Sussex Police said.
The force said: “A total of 27 arrests were made during a week-long crackdown on county lines drug dealing in Sussex.
“Cash, drugs, weapons and mobile phones were seized as police and partners took part in the operation from Monday 9 October to Sunday 15 October.
“This has since resulted in a number of people being charged, including the following.
“On Wednesday 11 October, police observed a suspected drugs deal take place in the vicinity of Max Miller Walk – the public walkway above Madeira Drive, in Brighton.
“A man was seen to get into a vehicle which was subsequently stopped by police. The occupants were searched and a quantity of cash, drugs and mobile phones were discovered.
“Zak Marsden, 34, of Normandy Road, Hastings, was arrested and charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.
“Joel St Pierre, 31, of Goodwood Way, Brighton, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin and assault of an emergency worker.
“Both men have been remanded in custody to appear before Lewes Crown Court on Friday 10 November.
“On Saturday 14 October, officers on patrol stopped a vehicle suspected to be concerned in drug supply in Beaconsfield Road, Brighton.
“The driver was arrested after cash and class A substances were found in the car.
“Asllan Hasbajrami, 21, of no fixed address, has since been charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and obstructing or resisting police in the execution of duty.
“He has been remanded in custody to appear before Lewes Crown Court on Monday 13 November.
“On Monday 9 October, police witnessed a number of exchanges between a woman and members of the street community in New Steine Gardens, Brighton.
“The suspect was followed and detained and found to be in possession of cash and drugs as well as a personal phone and a burner phone.
“Mary Thorpe, 35, of Verdant Lane, Lewisham, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and possession of cannabis.
“She has been remanded in custody to appear at a court yet to be confirmed on Wednesday 8 November.
“On Wednesday 11 October, a suspected drug dealer was stopped by Sussex Police officers working in partnership with the Met Police’s Op Orochi team in Fullwell Road, London, and searched.
“A search of his address was carried out where drugs were located.
“Wayne McFarlane, 28, of Cornell Square, Lambeth, was arrested and charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.
“He has been remanded in custody to appear before a court yet to be confirmed on Friday 10 November.
“A number of other suspects have been bailed pending further inquiries.
“In Brighton, the vast majority of arrests were made in the vicinity of St James’s Street – this followed concerns raised by businesses and residents about open drug use in the area.”
Inspector James Ward, of the Brighton Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I’d like to recognise the collective effort of everyone involved in this operation. There has been some incredible teamwork, invaluable support from partners and a lot of long shifts pulled.
“We have had some outstanding results and this was only achieved with the determination and desire by our teams to catch criminals.
“Locally, we have listened to concerns raised in the community about open drug use and we have taken action. This has resulted in a number of suspects being arrested and a large quantity of illegal drugs being removed from the streets.
“County lines drug-dealing often involves the exploitation of vulnerable people and we would urge the public to continue to report any incidents of intelligence to us so we can continue to disrupt those who cause the greatest harm to our communities.”
ALL THESE PEOPLE SPRAWLED OUT OF THEIR HEADS IN NORTH STREET ON SPICE A GOOD ADVERT FOR THE CITY WHERE THE SMELL OF WEED IS OVERPOWERING NEEDS SORTING OUT OF COURSE , THESE PEOPLE ARE SHOPLIFTING , BEGGING AND MAKING EVERYONE’S LIVES MISERABLE DUE TO THEIR DRUG HABIT THERE’,S ANOTHER LITTLE TOSSER WHO PATROLS NORTH STREET , GARDENER STREET AND SHIP STREET ETC ALWAYS DRESSED IN ARMY GEAR WITH A CAN OF BEER IN HIS POCKET BEGGING OFF PEOPLE EATING THEIR OVERPRICED MEALS OUTSIDE NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE SERVICE AND THE FOOD THEY PROBABLY WOULDN’T GO BACK AFTER BEING ACCOSTED BY THIS POLITE BEGGAR WHO IS KNOWN TO THE PCSOS AND ISNT HOMELESS HIS PATCH HAS NOW EXTENDED TO LONDON ROAD THEY BANNED ISLA FROM BEGGING , BUT DON’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS LITTLE TOSSER A VULNERABLE LOOOKING OAP GAVE HIM A FIVER AT NORTH STREET BUS STOP THE OTHER DAY AFTER FALLING FOR HIS SOB STORY
Something not right with all these foreign names getting arrested for drug dealing. I often see dealing on Western road and often see addicts hanging around waiting for dealers. The Police need to put plain cloths Police on our streets to see what is actually going on.
The sad part about this the Police target well run bars and clubs and blame them if traces of drugs are found. Its because the Police ignore the open dealing that there is so much drugs circulating so its impossible to keep drugs out of our nightlife.
“All these foreign names”, like Zac, Joel, Mary, and Wayne?
It’s a pity that the rest of your comment is sensible but is difficult to get to after your casual racism.
Not racism at all. It’s a valid point.
A valid point that names like Mary and Wayne are foreign?
it is Racism if the foriegn Names are called out specificaly instead ignoring the obviously English names as if they were innocent.
So fukn true pal
Not racist at all …
You don’t have to look very far before you see a drug dealer doing his business in plane site, most of them are foreigners you have the ones forced to do it then the other ones the bastards who give them the drugs there making the money and the poor guy gets caught, all they do is get the next guy so it all starts again. The police haven’t got a clue how to stop what’s going on in every city in Britain, you can walk along your street and the smell of cannabis is easy to see them smoking it they don’t even try and hide it.So the Government will have to legalise drugs by doing this you won’t have dealer’s on our streets any more. And addicts won’t be dieing behind buildings not being found for months, they would have centres where they could go and be safe with clean tools and clean drugs. I hope the Government will legalise drugs because where I come from is the drug death capital of Europe so please help it’s a disease and we have to cure it well here’s hoping a concerned reader
Its largely because we the public are afraid very often to give evidence. The Police Need evidence to convict a drug dealer. Most of these dealers aint stupid. they know how to hide in many cases and its only through mistakes that they get caught. but if the mistake is because a member of the public catches them or find something. they dont want to stand up in court. i can sympathise because of a possible backlash. But I stood up and beside threats which came to nothing. i helped the police crack down a serious drugs ring where i lived