Police charge two men and seize up to £75k of drugs after reports of assault in Brighton

Police said they were called to Ditchling Rise at around 8pm on Friday, March 11, to reports of a group of men fighting with weapons before making off towards Beaconsfield Road.

Response officers conducted an initial investigation, which led to an address in Beaconsfield Road where a suspect was identified and arrested on suspicion of assault, police said.

“A search of the property located a second man inside, who had suffered a minor head injury,” said a Sussex Police spokesperson.

“Having reason to suspect wider suspicious behaviour, officers searched the property and found a significant amount of Class B drugs and more than £10,000 in cash,” they added.

The seized drugs are believed to be worth up to £75,000, said police, totalling more than 5kg of cannabis and over 6.4kg of cannabis resin.

Sussex Police said that Massinissa Lahdiri, 25, and 32-year-old Karim Saadoune, both of Newmarket Road in Brighton, were charged with possession with the intent to supply Class B drugs and possessing criminal property and remanded in custody, to appear at Lewes Crown Court on April 8 for trial.

Detective Sergeant Jo Benton said: “This is a great example of officers trusting their instincts to investigate further and ultimately take a huge amount of harmful substances off the streets.

“I would like to commend them for their quick thinking, which has also led to two people being taken into custody.

“We will continue to crack down on any reports of violence and drug offences and make Brighton and Hove an inhospitable place for those who spread harm.”