Drugs, weapons and cash were seized in the biggest narcotics haul in Brighton and Hove for three years.

More than two kilos of cocaine, more than £27,000 in cash, a stun gun and a canister of CS gas were found after police raided a one-bedroom flat in the city yesterday morning.

A large quantity of what officers believe to be heroin was also discovered.

It was the biggest drugs haul discovered by the Brighton and Hove division of Sussex Police since 2004.

It followed months of intelligence by undercover officers as part of Operation Reduction, the force's blitz targeting drug dealers and users across the city.

The basement flat in Roedale Road, Hollingdean, was raided at about 8am.

Officers began using a battering ram to break down the door before it was opened by a man who was alone in the flat.

Police then began a painstaking two-hour search of the property.

The occupant was suspected of transporting drugs around the city on a motor-cycle.

The seized items were found stashed under a bed and concealed in a boarded-up fireplace.

A 25kg barrel labelled "benzocaine" was also discovered.

Benzocaine is a painkiller that is often mixed with cocaine to "water down" the purity of the drug so dealers can make more profit from each sale.

Among other evidence seized was a passport and photographs.

A motorbike and a Ford Focus car, which was parked in Beaconsfield Road, were also searched.

A 38-year-old man from Brighton was arrested and was last night being questioned by detectives on suspicion of drugs offences.

The street value of the drugs is estimated to be £100,000 but officers believe the final total could be double that if tests carried out on the cocaine reveal it to be stronger than first thought.

Sergeant Mark Baker, of Sussex Police, led the raid.

He said: "We have had a very successful morning. This is a very significant find. It doesn't get much better."

Officers also swabbed the flat for traces of the class-A substance methylamphetamine, also known as the clubbers' drug crystal meth.

Operation Reduction is credited by police with bringing down levels of drug-related crime in the city.

Officers target dealers and try to get addicts into treatment as part of the initiative.

Superintendent Graham Bartlett said: "To get that level of drugs off the street is a great result.

"It is the biggest haul by Brighton and Hove division for some time."