FOUR Brighton men are among ten charged for fraud and drug dealing following a police raid. 

Ten million pounds worth of assets were seized after 28 search warrants were carried out by police on Wednesday, March 23. 

Officers targeted a suspected organised crime group involved in complex fraud and supplying huge quantities of cocaine.

Four Brighton men were charged with conspiring to supply the class A drug.

  • Patrick Hallahan, 35, of The Drive, Hove 
  • Kevin Ratcliffe, 40, of Longhill Road
  • Damion Freeman, 44, of Lenham Avenue 
  • Michael Blewett, 42, of Mulberry Close 

The Argus: Some of the assets seizedSome of the assets seized

A further four men were also charged: 

  • Lewis Cosgrove, 38, of Butlers Park Way, Rochester
  • Richard Shelton, 40, of Green Lane, Eltham
  • Jessie Cockle, 28, of Kimberley Road, Lowestoft
  • James Savva, 50, of Reservoir Road, New Barnet

The dawn warrants were specifically targeting 17 suspects, with all of them detained as a result.

Financial investigators working for Kent Police have since successfully restrained in excess of £10 million worth of alleged criminal assets.

This includes the freezing of bank accounts and prohibiting the sale of property, such as cars and homes.

The following charges have also been authorised:

  • Carl Crabtree, 40, of Colsterdale, Lowestoft, has been charged with concealing criminal property
  • Daniel Newton, 35, of Whitefriars Wharf, Tonbridge, has been charged with fraud by false representation

They were all remanded in custody to attend Medway Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 25. 

At the hearing, they were further remanded in custody and will next appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, April 22. 

A further seven people have been released on bail, while enquiries continue, until Wednesday, April 20.