GOVERNMENT officials are “urgently” investigating a court security breach after a drug dealer pulled out a razor blade and threatened to kill a police officer.

Louis Makai slashed his wrist in the dock at Brighton Crown Court on Tuesday as he was handed an 18-year jail sentence for his part in a £12.5 million drug dealing conspiracy, officials said.

Witnesses told how he pointed the blade at Detective Sergeant Julian Deans, the investigating officer who helped to catch him, and said: “When I get out, I’ll kill you.”

Both the Ministry of Justice and court security firm GeoAmey, which employs custody officers, are trying to find out how the weapon got into the court room undetected.

Makai, 46, of Portslade, was convicted at a re-trial after undercover officers discovered his role in a chain which fed heroin from Liverpool to the streets of Brighton, Hove and Eastbourne in 2015.

Five other key players were put behind bars in May for a combined total of 67 years.

Makai was treated in court by paramedics but was not taken to hospital, a GEOAmey spokesman said.

He added: “An investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding this incident.

“The prisoner was produced from HMP Lewes, so there was no obligation on escort officers to search him. Nevertheless, GEOAmey searched the prisoner. However, the article was undetected by our officers.”

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: “We are aware of an incident at Brighton Crown Court on December 19 and are urgently investigating.

“We closely monitor GeoAmey’s performance to ensure their services remain of the highest standard.”