Four people arrested at St Leonards flat after large quantity of drugs found

Officers from Sussex Police Tactical Enforcement Units (TEUs) - which was set up in December last year - attended the address, working alongside Hastings prevention team officers.

The officers seized a large quantity of heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis worth more than £20,000 along with £1,500 in cash and phones.

Four people at the address were arrested, according to police. A police spokesman said: "A 35-year-old man who was detained on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and was wanted on a warrant, a 25-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and a 18-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman who were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs. They have all been released on bail until 5 July."

Sussex Police said the TEUs have been busy during June making further arrests across the county.

The officers also carried out two separate drugs warrants in Brighton – one in Auckland Drive where a 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, possession of cannabis, a domestic assault and an assault. The team discovered several bags of white powder, cash and mobile phones. He was later released under investigation pending more enquiries.

The other warrant was in Stonecross Road where the team carried out a warrant where a man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of supplying cannabis. Drugs, cash and weapons including flick knives were seized. A man aged 20 and a woman aged 44 were later released under investigation.

The West Sussex TEU team which was launched at the end of May to cover the West Sussex division has also been busy carrying out warrants and making an arrests, according to police.

Two officers in the team stopped a car in Worthing. When they searched the vehicle they found £10,000 cash and class A drugs. The driver and passenger, were arrested and the team, along with officers from Worthing Prevention and newly recruited officers with their coaching unit, carried out further searches at addresses in Worthing and seized a further £50,000 cash and a large amount of cannabis, cocaine and amphetamine.

A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods, a 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a class A drug, a 51-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and a 59-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of money laundering. They have all been released under investigation.

They carried out a search warrant at a home in Littlehampton and found a large quantity of stolen building equipment, power tools, tools, garden ornaments and other property. A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft and released on bail until the 17 July.

The teams are made up of eight PCs, and a Sergeant. The TEU will then expand again in July with dedicated teams in Brighton and Hove and East Sussex divisions.

Inspector Dan Hiles, who is leading the TEU, said: "The TEU has been created to disrupt, enforce and protect and that’s what the teams have been doing. The first TEU team which was set up at the end of December made 19 arrests, carried out 91 stop and searches targeting serious and organised criminals and created 75 intelligence reports in May alone.

“There is no officer who enjoys the idea of a criminal evading justice. The unit was set up to target exactly those people, while helping to keep communities safe."