LEWES RESTAURANT IN DRUG RAID SHAME

FOUR staff members of a Bangladeshi restaurant in Lewes were arrested after an early morning police raid on Wednesday.

Three were suspected of being illegal immigrants. One of those was also suspected of having a false passport.

The other man was arrested on suspicion of possessing heroin and methadone (class-A drugs).

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Police also found at the Shanaz in Lewes High Street what they suspect to be stolen electrical goods, including four mobile phones and a computer printer.

Said Acting Inspector Dave Padwick: This operation was the result of four months intelligence gathering - part of a drive against burglars and people handling stolen property in the Lewes area.

Nine police officers and three immigration officers entered the restaurant at 8am and found the men in living quarters at the rear of the building.

A small quantity of what is thought to be heroin was found in a cigar tin in the living quarters.A small bottle containing what is thought to be methadone was found in one of the restaurant fridges.

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Three members of Lewes District Council s environmental health department were later called in to inspect the restaurant.

The four men were taken to Eastbourne police station to be interviewed.

Abdul Mohammed, a spokesman for the restaurant, told the Express on Wednesday he was not entirely clear what had happened or what was going to happen.

He expressed disbelief that drugs and stolen goods might have been found.He said a member of staff who had been sacked was trying to make trouble.

Published: 31.5.01 Sussex Newspapers Ltd

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