Drugs, firearms and cash seized as five charged

Firearms, drugs and high-value clothing worth a suspected six-figure sum were seized in a series of warrants focused on disrupting a drug network in Essex.

Our specialist drugs officers, working in partnership with Metropolitan Police colleagues, have also secured charges against five people.

This follows extensive work building intelligence against a drug line bringing crack cocaine and heroin from London to the streets of Harwich.

On Wednesday (27 February), this work resulted in warrants being executed across Harwich, Clacton, Colchester, Stratford and Croydon.

This required joint working between several teams, including the Met Police, our specialist Orochi and Raptor units, Community Policing Teams and our Operational Support Group.

During the Stratford warrant, officers seized two viable handguns alongside rounds of ammunition, alongside drugs and cash.

We also seized high value clothing, trainers and watches, believed to be worth a six-figure sum.

Charges have since been authorised against:

• Deveire Young, 30, of Mortham Street, London E15, charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, two counts of possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, possession with intent to supply cannabis, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and possession of criminal property.
• Jason Anderson, 49, of Stour Close, Dovercourt, charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin, and possession of an offensive weapon.
• Etienne Da Cunha, 30, of Hanbury Gardens, Colchester, charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
• Dennis Da Silva Costa, 31, of Priory Road, Clacton, charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
• Alfie Sanchez, 20, of Riley Avenue, Jaywick, charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to supply cannabis and cannabis resin, two counts of possession of a bladed article and possession of cannabis.

All five appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 28 February and were remanded in custody until a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday 27 March.

'We're focused on keeping drugs off our streets'

DS Jonathan Stephenson, of our Op Raptor North team, said:

“This involved close working between teams dedicated to tackling organised drug dealing in London and Essex, both within the Met and Essex Police, to get to the point of executing these warrants.
“It is an example of the close cooperation between forces and teams within Essex Police to tackle drug dealing.
“We know that communities in Tendring and wider Essex want to see us focused on keeping harmful substances off their streets.
“They can be assured this work remains a high priority.”

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