Sussex Police confiscated thousands of pounds of suspected drugs money in one of the first seizures under the new Proceeds of Crime Act.

The Act allows police to take suspected drugs cash even though suspects have not been convicted or even charged.

Officers raided an address in Regency Square, Brighton, and found a small amount of cocaine and a machine used for pressing drugs into blocks or sheets so they can be concealed more easily.

Also found was a large amount of cash - £23,110, 8,880 US dollars, 985 euros and 64,810 Venezuelan bolivars.

The seizure was the first under the Act in Sussex and only the eighth in England and Wales.

Court proceedings are now under way to have the cash forfeited.

Detective Sergeant Kevin Burgess, from the crime and drug unit, said: "Although no one has been charged in connection with any offence, it is not a pre-requisite of this Act.

"Its use gives notice to criminals that they cannot expect to be able to live off the proceeds of crime."

News of the seizure comes on the day the Assets Recovery Agency, set up under the Act to recover wealth obtained by criminal activity, becomes operational.

The agency will seize, investigate and recover assets and wealth obtained as a result of crime.

The agency can take civil action to recover such proceeds and can tax any individual or company where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they have gained financially.

There was a number of arrests following the raid and all suspects have been freed on bail pending further inquiries.