POLICE staging a six month crack down on the supply of drugs in Brighton and Hove have arrested 59 people.

Detectives have been carrying out raids across the city, identifying London gangs targetting vulnerable adults and teenagers to supply heroin.

Detective Inspector Julie Wakeford said: “Many of the supply networks targeted through this operation originate from various boroughs within London.

“We had support from the Metropolitan police throughout this operation and will continue to work with them to disrupt these networks often linked to London gangs who are intent on supplying heroin in Brighton and Hove.

“The methods they use to operate their dealing networks exploit vulnerable people both adults and teenagers in order to maximise their profit from drug supply. The community investigation team at Brighton benefits from long standing partnership support from the Safe in the City team within the local authority. We share a commitment to reduce the harm associated to heroin supply in the city.”

The six-month-long operation carried out by officers from Brighton and Hove police’s Community Investigation Team, supported by officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU). So far 46 people have been charged, with 11 still under investigation, one cautioned and one summonsed.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: “Police have carried out raids on properties and arrested 59 people in the latest operation to disrupt the supply of heroin in Brighton and Hove.

“Officers have been targeting dealers who supply the class A drugs in the city and identifying vulnerable people affected by drug trafficking. Thousands of pounds worth of drugs and cash have been seized.

“So far 46 people have been charged, with 11 released on bail pending further enquiries, one cautioned and one summonsed.”

Those arrested are:

Dean Gill, 59, of The Crestway, Brighton, was charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs, pleaded guilty on 16 March and was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court to five years and eight months.

Chazen Stumke, 20, of no fixed address, Joshua Otaru, 20, of Torrington Way, Merton, London, Joshua Adewale, 22, of Garth Close, Merton, London, Kwesi Asamoah, 19, of Lockgate Close, Hackney, London, Rico Mitchell, 19, of The Avenue, Wembley, London, Mesach Knight, 20, of Bunns Lane, Mill Hill, London, James Gibson, 20, of no fixed address, Malik Wacha, 36, of St James Road, Croydon, Mustapha John, 22, of no fixed address, Maxime Coulibaly, 21, of no fixed address, Babucarr Camara, 28, of North Ham Road, Littlehampton, Gary McCarten, 27, of Hazel Close, Newhaven, Daniel McDermot, 34, of no fixed address, Emad Uddin, 22, of Queens Road, Northampton, Mohammed Alom, 21, of Old Bethanal Green Road, London, William Ashbee, 26, of Howard Place, Brighton, Farhad Khan, 22, of Chipka Street, London, Charles Ogunnowo, 21, of Crest Road, Croydon, Nigel Changambi, 19, of Browning Close, Crawley, Joseph Sswewwo, 23, of no fixed address, Jan Cinnan, 19, of no fixed address, Alexander Loucadies, 25, of Beulah Hill, London, Jordan Salmon, 21, of The Quarterdeck, London, Ruhalur Rahman, 23, of Larson Walk, London, Peter Dillon, 30, of Burleigh Road South, Liverpool, Michael Murphy, 21, of Noonan Close, Liverpool, Michael Oginni, 24, of Vincent Road, Croydon, George Mitchell, 19, of Gadswell Close, Watford, Bronwyn McKenzie, 44, of no fixed address and Carl Gillespie, 44, of no fixed address, have all been charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and remanded in custody.

Leondre Thomas, 21, of Clarence Road, London, was summonsed for conspiracy to supply class A drugs having already been remanded on unconnected matters.

Ashlee Scott, 44, of Donald Hall Road, Brighton, Tamarapreye Soroh, 21, of Queen Anne Avenue, Shortlands, Bromley, Sade Woolnough, 18, of Bideford Road, Bromley, Philip Barnes, 48, of no fixed address, Remy Douglas, 49, of Phoenix Rise, Brighton, Alan Barnes, 42, of no fixed address and Kieran Sakhabuth, 20, of The Avenue, Brighton, have all charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and bailed to court hearings during April and May.

Three 16-year-old boys and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons have been charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and bailed to court.

Reece McCue, 30, of Grand Parade, Brighton and Alexandra Rose, 45, of Percival Terrace, Brighton, have been charged and bailed to court for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and released on court bail.

Stacey Lockwood, 21, of Atlingworth Street, Brighton, has been charged with possession of class B drugs and bailed to court.

A 25-year-old man who was arrested has been released on bail until 12 April. An arrested woman aged 22 has been bailed until 9 May and a 53-year-old man, a 57-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman who were all arrested have all been bailed until 10 May. A 41-year-old man who was arrested and bailed until 3 April failed to report on bail and is currently wanted.

A 33-year-old man has been bailed until 20 April, a 21-year-old man and a 20-year-old man have been bailed until 5 May. A 62-year-old man and a 24-year-old man have been bailed until 22 May.

A 27-year-old woman has been cautioned for possession of class A and B drugs.

A 27-year-old woman arrested was released without further action.