A DRUGS den was raided after police spotted a dealer running into a house.

Officers in a patrol car turned into Willowfield Road in Eastbourne town centre and spotted drug users being approached.

A man then ran off and rushed into a house, police followed and he tried to jump out of the back window.

There was a strong smell of cannabis from the room inside, and the officers found cash, a mobile phone, cannabis and white powder.

Some £27,500 was found during the sting, and the money will be used to help fund the criminal justice system.

The cannabis had a street value of £30,000, while the cocaine had a street value of £26,000.

Detective Inspector Mark O’Brien said: “This helps us to fund drugs enforcement and other local police activity and projects.

“In some cases, like this, we have not identified or prosecuted individual offenders.

“But it still sends the important message that we will always go after criminal assets, to try to convert them to lawful and useful purposes.”

Police say the man arrested in Seaside Road nearby was in possession of cannabis and cocaine after the raid in June last year.

All the seized cash and drugs have now been the subject of a Forfeiture Order made by police under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The cash is forwarded to central government funds, but 50 per cent from cash forfeitures such as these returns to the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Sussex Police.