FOUR people have been charged after almost £3,000 in cash and a machete were found in a drugs raid.

Specialist officers from Essex Police Op Raptor South team have charged two teenagers and two men as part of an investigation into Class A drug supply in Basildon.

The team carried out four raids in the borough on Thursday morning.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "During a search of each property, officers found a phone which we believe is linked to a County Line, almost £3,000 in cash and a machete.

"Five people were arrested in total. Now, four have been charged. They are: A 15-year-old boy from Basildon has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply a Class A drug, a 17-year-old boy from Basildon has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply a Class A drug, Scott McCormack, 24, of Parkside, Basildon, has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply a Class A drug and AJ Buchanan, 30, of Ampers End, Basildon, has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply a Class A drug.

"They were all due to appear in Southend Magistrates’ Court today. One person has been released and will face no further action."