ANOTHER huge drugs bust has come off by police who have uncovered 250 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine.

A total of 70 people have been arrested during two successful police operations aimed at detecting and disrupting the supply of Class A drugs in the Southend area.

Operation Erasure saw 47 people arrested during a two day crack down across south Essex in mid-July.

To prevent other drug dealers moving into the void left following the arrests the second phase, Operation Booth, was launched on July 22.

A multi-agency group organised and chaired by Essex Police was established to ensure other agencies and departments were aware of the issue and has since allowed for better reporting of suspected activity to ensure a more developed intelligence picture.

Since the start of Operation Booth 26 people have been arrested for drug offences and 12 warrants have been executed at six properties within central Southend. Three properties have been secured through partnership working with South Essex Homes after they were targeted by dealers.

More than 250 wraps of heroin and crack have been recovered by police and others have been flushed away before police could intervene.

Investigations also showed that the drug dealers were picking on vulnerable women living in Southend and using their homes as a base for supplying local users. The women were forced to cooperate with the criminals through a mixture of fear and threats and their homes became a focal point for anti-social behaviour and drug-related violence.

Police are now working closely with other agencies to provide more support and a better environment for vulnerable women to report issues and to increase safeguarding for them.

Ch Insp Simon Anslow, the Southend district commander said: "Following the success of operation Erasure we saw the potential for new drug dealers moving into the town and trying to get a hold over local people. We moved proactively to focus our activity to prevent this.

"Officers working on Operation Booth have used disruptive and intrusive engagement tactics to prevent gang members from supplying drugs and moreover to safeguard the vulnerable females being targeted. The Southend Police Tactical Team have been supported by funding and additional policing resources from headquarters so that there is no let-up in our efforts.

"Through intelligence gathering and liaising with partnership agencies locations and activity of gangs dealing class A drugs has been obtained.

"Users were stopped entering or leaving the premises and dealt with positively to ensure they were discouraged from conducting business with the group. Search warrants were executed to catch dealers in possession of the drugs we believe they intended to deal in Southend.

"We are continuing to carry out this excellent work against drug dealers in Southend and we aim to give them no foot-hold and no opportunity to feel comfortable. We want them to jump at every siren and worry that every noise at the door will be the start of a journey that could ultimately see them behind bars.

"Drug use is a problem that goes beyond the sole responsibility of the police to solve - it is society’s problem and solutions can’t be found in enforcement alone. That said. I know that the police need to be part of a solution, to reduce the impact on communities and minimise the harms caused to everyone involved. Realistically, we won’t be able to prevent every drug deal or stop every drug-related assault in the town, but that won’t stop us trying, so we will continue to work day and night to make Southend safer for everyone.”

Anyone who sees drug dealing is urged to call 999. Those with less urgent information can call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.