MORE than 100 suspected drug dealers were arrested in the last ten months thanks to the work of the South Operation Raptor team.

Since January this year the team of four officers have made 107 arrests, secured 103 years in custodial sentences, seized nearly £53,000 worth of drugs, executed 29 warrants and filed 501 intelligence reports about those involved in drug and gang-related crime.

Those convicted and jailed have been found guilty or pleaded guilty to offences including possessing drugs, possessing with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of the drugs heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, cannabis and amphetamine.

Sentences handed down by the courts range from 12-months to nearly six years.

The impressive results are the hard work of the South Operation Raptor team who proactively target those involved in drug and gang-related crime across the borough of Basildon and Castle Point.

The team use tactics including automated number plate recognition (ANPR) operations to target known criminals using the roads; working with neighbouring forces to target criminals crossing county borders to commit crime; executing warrants at the home of suspected offenders; and covert and high visibility patrols in key areas.

Sgt Ben Woollard, who leads the South Operation Raptor team, said: “The team have worked extremely hard over the last ten months to target those involved in drug dealing and gang-related crime within the Basildon and Castle Point community.

“We hope the message is getting out there to those involved in this type of crime that we will use all the tools open to us to go after them and put them behind bars where they belong.

“Drug dealing and gangs blight our communities, exploit our vulnerable and make our streets less safe and that is not something Operation Raptor are prepared to tolerate.”

Chief Supt Paul Wells, Essex Police’s lead for Operation Raptor, added: “I’m extremely proud of the South Operation Raptor team for these impressive results.

“The officers on all of our Raptor teams really are taking the fight to those involved in drug and gang-related crime in our county.

“They work all hours to gather intelligence, patrol known dealing hotspots, carry out proactive patrols and warrants and leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of these criminals.

“If you think you can come to our county to deal drugs, think again because as these results show you will end up behind bars for a significant time.”

Operation Raptor teams were set up in the South, West and North of the county to tackle drug and gang-related crime.

If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.