A GUN and drugs worth more than £200,000 were recovered in a police raid on a Basildon home.

Details of the successful operation were included ina review of recent work by Essex Police's recently created South Disruptor Team.

In July, its officers took £365,000 of drugs off the streets in the Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford and Southend districts.

They also seized a hand gun and £38,000 of cash suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

The team was created to prevent, investigate and tackle organised criminal activity and anti-social behaviour which has an impact on vulnerable people and local communities.

The team also arrested 27 people on suspicion of committing a variety of drugs offences, including production of cannabis; possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs; being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs; and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Three men were arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, one man was arrested on suspicion of committing 20 robberies, two men were arrested because they were wanted on recall to prison and another two were arrested on suspicion of burglary.

In addition, the team executed 16 warrants – ten in the Basildon district, four in the Southend area and two in Castle Point and Rochford - and carried out 30 stop searches.

In Basildon, during one series of warrants, police seized £100,000 of cocaine, £100,000 of cannabis, £9,000 cash and a firearm. Four men have been charged with a variety of drugs offences, including being concerned in the supply and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.

One was additionally charged with firearms offences. All four have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Basildon Crown Court at a later date.

During one of the Southend warrants, police seized £5,000 of cannabis and £22,000 cash. Two men have since both admitted charges of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs and possession of criminal property and will be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court at a later date.

At another, officers seized £40,000 of cocaine, 220 cannabis vape pens with an estimated value of £12,000 and £5,000 cash. A man is due to appear at Basildon Crown Court at a later date on drugs charges.

At a third address, officers seized 100 cannabis plants with an estimated value of £30,000 and arrested a man, who has been released under investigation.

One of the warrants in the Castle Point and Rochford districts led to the seizure of £75,000 of cannabis. A man was arrested and released under investigation.

Disruptor officers work with other local and specialist policing teams to help to keep communities safe, by developing and acting on information from those communities to bring offenders to justice.

Sergeant Adam Jarvis says: "Drugs and associated crimes cause harm to vulnerable people, blight communities and can also lead to more serious types of crime.

"South Disruptor is here to tackle these issues but we can't do it without your help.

"We want to know what you know about criminal and anti-social behaviour in your area. Car number plates, names, CCTV and doorbell images or anything else you know or see - the more information we have, the quicker we can act.

"Please report your concerns to us. Don't assume we already know."

You can pass on information to he Disrupter team online at www.essex.police.uk where you can use the 'Live Chat' button to speak to an online operator between 7am and 11pm. Alternatively, you can ring 101.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously online or by calling 0800 555 111.