POLICE made eight arrests and seized more than £10,000 in cash in a series of drugs raids.

The Sussex Police operation, which was carried out in coordination with the National Crime Agency (NCA), was aimed at disrupting the drugs supply from London into Sussex.

Six addresses were raided in Brighton, Hastings and two in both Eastbourne and Bognor.

Eight arrests were made, more than £10,000 cash was seized along with what is believed to be quantities of heroin and crack cocaine.

Police are still verifying the exact amounts and street value of each.

Officers in charge of the operation said the raids had disrupted at least 10 drug supply lines, known to police as County Lines.

Officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) were also part of the raids.

The raids were part of an ongoing campaign against drug dealers in Sussex

In East Sussex in the last six months alone police have arrested 11 men, and four boys aged 17 or younger, with London addresses, on suspicion of trafficking controlled drugs.

Over the past several months officers in Eastbourne and Hastings have also made 35 visits to addresses thought to be sites from which drug dealing has been taking place – in some cases this involved multiple visits to the same location.

In Bognor, 28 arrests have been made over a similar period and 45 safeguarding visits have taken place, the majority also on more than one occasion.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Rayland, said: “This is not a new phenomenon and is not confined to Sussex. London affiliated gangs have been seeking to establish drug distribution in Sussex and elsewhere in the South East for several years, although activity has increased in the past two or three years, sometimes involving the use or threat of violence.

“Whilst there is no official definition, typical ‘County Lines’ activity involves an organised crime group from a large urban area travelling to smaller locations, such as a county or coastal towns to sell class A drugs in particular cocaine and heroin.

“The organised crime groups tend to use a local property, generally belonging to a vulnerable person, sometimes drug users, as a base for their activities. This is known as ‘cuckoooing’ and will often happen by force or coercion. In some instances victims have left their homes in fear of violence.”

Anyone who has suspicions or information about drug dealing can contact the police at any time online or by calling 101, quoting Project Preclude.