SPECIALIST officers have arrested four people as part of a second co-ordinated strike against drug supply in south Essex in the last week.

Shortly after 6.30am yesterday (Tuesday 12 October), officers from Op Raptor South and Essex Operational Support Group, supported by the Essex Police Dog Unit, Eastern Region Special Operations Unit and the National County Lines Coordination Centre, carried out the operation in Basildon.

As part of it, four warrants were carried out in Swanstead as well as in Timberlog Lane and Little Lullaway.

In total four have people have been arrested on suspicion of drug offences.

Police also seized 2.5kgs of suspected Class A drugs, weapons and cash.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Scott Fitzmaurice, of the Op Raptor South team, said: "This is our second co-ordinated strike on drug supply in south Essex in a week, which I hope shows our residents that our commitment to tackling drug dealing in our communities is unwavering.

"We have teams of specialist officers who are responsible for identifying people who we believe are involved in supplying drugs and building cases against them.

"Doing that professionally can take time and I would always say to our communities, please continue to report issues. Although you may not see police activity straight away, we are there – even if you cannot see us.

"As we have consistently said, we take an uncompromising approach to drugs and drug dealing in our county. Neither is welcome and my message today is the same as last week – the actions of our Op Raptor teams are making a difference. They are making your streets and communities safer."