Sussex Police seize huge haul of drugs ahead of Pride (From The Argus)

Police seize huge haul of drugs ahead of Brighton Pride

10:50am Saturday 1st September 2012 in News By Ben Parsons, Crime Reporter

A haul of drugs has been seized in a pre-Pride police blitz.

Officers arrested suspected dealers and searched their homes ahead of this weekend’s celebrations.

Substances believed to be ketamine and GHB were found as well as class B drug cannabis and class A drugs heroin and cocaine.

At Queensway in Brighton yesterday morning (August 31) police arrested two men at a flat on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to supply.

Hidden around the flat were 70 wraps of brown and white powder, thought to be heroin and ketamine.

More raids were carried out at Lansdowne Place in Hove, Lower Rock Gardens in Brighton and Terminus Road in Brighton, but no arrests were made and no drugs seized.

We cannot say for sure if the confiscated drugs were heading for this weekend’s Pride celebrations but either way the warrants will send out a clear message that Sussex Police has a zero tolerance approach to drug dealing

Chief inspector Paul Betts

On Thursday, August 30 police seized 51 pieces of possible evidence from an address in Modena Road, Brighton.

GHB, cannabis and pills

They included miniature Gordon’s gin bottles, which police believe had been filled with the drug GHB.

Cannabis, bags of pills, weighing scales and £1,000 cash were also seized.

A 45-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and later released on bail.

On Wednesday a female officer was kicked in the stomach and another officer put in a headlock during a raid in Sudeley Street, Brighton. Officers seized a CS gas canister, mobile phones, bags of white powder and £900 cash.

A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply and assaulting and obstructing police officers. He was later released on bail.

Chief Inspector Paul Betts from Brighton and Hove Command Team said: “The drug warrants are part of a continual crackdown on drug dealing within the local community.

“We are grateful for the continual support from the public.

"We cannot say for sure if the confiscated drugs were heading for this weekend’s Pride celebrations but either way the warrants will send out a clear message that Sussex Police has a zero tolerance approach to drug dealing.”