Six men and one teenage boy are in custody following an operation led by the Serious Organised Crime Unit today yesterday.

Officers from OSG, Op Raptor, Op Titan and Basildon CPT carried out simultaneous arrest attempts at addresses in Basildon, Grays and Chelmsford.

The arrests were made in connection with an investigation between May and December 2016, during which undercover officers were sold stolen goods.

A 17-year-old boy, two men aged 22, and one man aged 26, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

The 26-year-old man was additionally arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs.

Another man, aged 18, was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary, after voluntarily attending a police station.

Two men aged 21 and 22 were also arrested on suspicion of theft from a vehicle, following reports yesterday on Tuesday that a blue Renault Megane was broken into at an address in Wetherland, Basildon.

During the operation, a three figure sum of cash was seized, plus what was believed to be cannabis, an extendable baton, a tomahawk axe, scales, and a mobile phone believed to be connected to drug crime.

Anyone with information which they believe could help the investigation are asked to contact the Serious Organised Crime Unit on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.