POLICE have revealed the results of a nine-month investigation into drug dealing in Brighton.

Two people have been charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis after officers executed warrants on two city centre stores in May last year.

Police in riot gear descended on Hemp Life in London Road and The Canna Kitchen in Duke Street in two daylight raids. The Canna Kitchen was the first UK’s first cannabis-infused restaurant. But it has been closed for several months.

Officers battered down the door of the London Road store and forced their way in on the morning of May 8.

A witness described seeing a van-load of officers with “shields and armour on” climbing out of a van in a nearby street ahead of the action.

He said: “There were 15 or 20 police there and one had a ram. But the first ram didn’t work so the went to get a bigger one.

“They were standing outside and seemed to be trying to get somebody inside to come out, but they wouldn’t. In the end they used a massive raid ram to get in. They all piled in and looked like they were searching around.”

Another passerby said: “It was definitely shocking as I live in the area, and wouldn’t expect to see something like this in the morning”

On the day of the raids, police said a third warrant was also carried out at a home address in North Place.

The force connected all three to an investigation into money laundering and supply of class B drugs.

On the day of the warrants, a Sussex Police spokesman said: “”Warrants were executed at shops in London Road and Duke Street, and a home address in North Place, in connection with an investigation into money laundering and supply of class B drugs. At London Road drugs and cash was seized and one man attended a police station under caution for a voluntary interview.

“At North Place a 36-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in money laundering and the supply of class B drugs.

“A further warrant was conducted at a shop in Duke Street and a significant quantity of herbal cannabis was seized.”

A man and a woman have now been charged after the raids.

A force spokesman said: “Following an investigation into the supply of class B drugs, officers searched two businesses in the city in May last year, seized a significant quantity of cannabis and arrested two people.

“Sammy Ben Rabah, 32, of Barrow Court Lane in Bristol, and Naomi Morris, 37, of North Place in Brighton, are each charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply cannabis and will appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on March 12.