A KNIFE, suspected drugs and more than £2,000 in cash have been seized after raids across Basildon as part of probes into the supply of crack cocaine and heroin in the town.

Op Raptor, Essex Police's team working to bring down drug dealers in the county, has been carrying out targeted work against two drug lines operating in the borough.

Following work into a suspected drug dealing line, police carried out two simultaneous raids at separate addresses in Basildon on Tuesday, making two arrests.

At one address, officers made an arrest and seized a lock knife found tucked behind a sofa.

At the other address, an arrest was made and a number of wraps of cannabis were seized.

Charges were authorised against Lewis Harris, 18, of Clifford Close, Basildon, and a 16-year-old boy, from Basildon, who can’t be named due to his age.

Harris is charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis and has been remanded in custody until a hearing at Basildon Crown Court on April 29.

The 16-year-old boy has been charged with being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug of Class A and Class B and possession of cannabis.

He's been released on conditional bail until a hearing at Basildon Crown Court on April 29.

As part of an investigation into a second suspected drugs line raided two addresses, in Basildon and London, making two arrests last Thursday.

Around £2,200 in cash was uncovered at the Basildon address alongside further drugs wraps, cannabis and mobile phones, while officers also seized wraps of suspected Class A drugs and mobile phones in London.

Charges were authorised against Naishe Mandaza, 21, of no fixed address, and Bradley Tegunde, 20, of Cambridge Park Road, London.

Mandaza has been charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, possession of cannabis, possession of a controlled drug of Class A, possessing criminal property and possessing a knife in a public place.

He remains on conditional bail until a hearing at Basildon Crown Court on April 26.

Tegunde has been charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and has been remanded in custody until a hearing at Basildon Crown Court on April 26.