Block of cocaine worth £30k seized in Hastings, St Leonards, Battle and Eastbourne drug raids

A Sussex Police spokesperson said: “On Sunday 20 November 2022, police were on duty in lower St Leonards when they noticed a suspected drug deal take place in the Gensing Road area.

“A 46-year-old man from Thornton Heath, Croydon, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug.

“Officers then entered a property in Gensing Road and arrested a 20-year-old man from Orpington, Bromley, on suspicion of the same offence.

“They have both been released on conditional bail until February 21.”

Police said they searched a flat in Gensing Road and seized 150 wraps of Class A drugs, a large quantity of cash, scales, and mobile phones.

A search warrant was executed at a property in Mountjoy, Battle, on November 22.

A police spokesperson said: “Officers searched the address and found nine cannabis plants inside, along with packages of white powder which were later tested and found to be ketamine with an estimated wholesale value of £6,000.

“A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being in possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class B and being involved in the cultivation and supply of cannabis. He has been released on conditional bail until March 11.”

A search warrant was carried out at an address in Parry Close, Eastbourne, on November 23.

A block of cocaine weighing ‘approximately 850 grams’ and with a value of around £30,000 was found, said police.

A spokesperson said: “A 27-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug. She has been released on conditional bail until February 22.”

Police searched a property in Shovelstrove Lane, Ashurst Wood, on November 24. A kilogram of herbal cannabis, with an estimated value of £4,000, was seized, police said, along with a firearm and shotgun cartridges.

Police seized wraps of Class A drugs, suspected to be cocaine and heroin, on December 5 at an address in Carisbrooke Road, St Leonards.

A spokesperson said: “An 18-year-old man from Lambeth, London, was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled Class A drug – crack cocaine. He has been released on conditional bail until March 5.

“A quantity of cash, mobile phones and scales were also seized by officers.”

Police were carrying out patrols in Hastings when they spotted what appeared to be a drug deal in Pelham Crescent on December 9.

A spokesperson said: “Officers arrested a 17-year-old boy, of Marina, St Leonards, on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, being in possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class B – cannabis, and being in possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

“A 16-year-old boy of Russel Street, Hastings, was also arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug, being in possession of a controlled drug of Class B – cannabis, being in possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, and being in possession of a bladed article in a public place.

“They have both been released on conditional bail until March 3.”

Inspector Aidan Cornwall, of the Hastings and Rother Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “These arrests and seizures demonstrate that the supply and distribution of drugs will absolutely not be tolerated in our towns. The supply of illegal drugs is hugely destructive, going hand in hand with violence and exploitation, and underpinning all manner of wider criminality. As harmful substances, they also decimate the lives of their users.”