Police arrest 59 people suspected of supplying drugs in Brighton and Hove

Police have arrested 59 people suspected of supplying drugs in Brighton and Hove as officers carried out a series of raids.

Sussex Police worked with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit to try to disrupt the supply of heroin from London to Brighton.

The force said: “Officers have been targeting dealers who supply the class A drugs in the city and identifying vulnerable people affected by drug trafficking.

“Thousands of pounds worth of drugs and cash have been seized.”

Detective Inspector Julie Wakeford said: “Many of the supply networks targeted through this operation originate from various boroughs within London.

“We had support from the Metropolitan police throughout this operation and will continue to work with them to disrupt these networks often linked to London gangs who are intent on supplying heroin in Brighton and Hove.

“The methods they use to operate their dealing networks exploit vulnerable people – both adults and teenagers – in order to maximise their profit from drug supply.

“The community investigation team at Brighton benefits from long-standing partnership support from the Safe in the City Team within the local authority. We share a commitment to reduce the harm associated to heroin supply in the city.”

Of the 59 people to have been arrested during the six-month-long operation, 46 have so far been charged, with 11 released on bail pending further inquiries, one cautioned and one summonsed.

Dean Gill, 58, of The Crestway, Brighton, was charged with having heroin and crack cocaine possession with intent to supply.

He was jailed for five years and eight months after he pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court last month.

Reece McCue, 30, of Grand Parade, Brighton, and Alexandra Rose, 45, of Percival Terrace, Brighton, have been charged with being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. They were released on court bail.

Seven people have been charged with conspiring to supply class A drugs and have been bailed to appear in court this month and next month. They are
• Ashlee Scott, 44, of Donald Hall Road, Brighton,
• Remy Douglas, 49, of Phoenix Rise, Brighton
• Philip Barnes, 48, of Glenwood Lodge, Grand Parade, Brighton
• Alan Barnes, 42, of Gloucester Street, Brighton
• Kieran Sakhabuth, 20, of The Avenue, Brighton
• Tamarapreye Soroh, 21, of Queen Anne Avenue, Shortlands, Bromley
• Sade Woolnough, 18, of Bideford Road, Bromley

Three 16-year-old boys and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and bailed to appear in court.

Stacey Lockwood, 21, of Atlingworth Street, Brighton, has been charged with having class B drugs and bailed to appear in court.

Thirty people have been remanded in custody after being charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs. They are
• Maxime Coulibaly, 21, of no fixed address, who appeared at Hove Crown Court on Friday (7 April) and was remanded until Thursday 31 August
• Babucarr Camara, 28, of North Ham Road, Littlehampton, who appeared at Hove Crown Court on Friday (7 April) and was remanded until Thursday 31 August
• Mustapha John, 22, also known as Lamin Dibba, of no fixed address, who appeared at Hove Crown Court on Friday (7 April) and was remanded until Thursday 31 August
• William Ashbee, 26, of Howard Place, Brighton
• Chazen Stumke, 20, of no fixed address
• Joshua Otaru, 20, of Torrington Way, Merton, London
• Joshua Adewale, 22, of Garth Close, Merton, London
• Kwesi Asamoah, 19, of Lockgate Close, Hackney, London
• Rico Mitchell, 19, of The Avenue, Wembley, London
• Mesach Knight, 20, of Bunns Lane, Mill Hill, London
• James Gibson, 20, of no fixed address
• Malik Wacha, 36, of St James Road, Croydon,
• Gary McCarten, 27, of Hazel Close, Newhaven
• Daniel McDermot, 34, of no fixed address
• Emad Uddin, 22, of Queen’s Road, Northampton
• Mohammed Alom, 21, of Old Bethnal Green Road, London
• Farhad Khan, 22, of Chipka Street, London
• Charles Ogunnowo, 21, of Crest Road, Croydon
• Nigel Changambi, 19, of Browning Close, Crawley
• Joseph Sswewwo, 23, of no fixed address
• Jan Cinnan, 19, of no fixed address
• Alexander Loucadies, 25, of Beulah Hill, London
• Jordan Salmon, 21, of The Quarterdeck, London
• Ruhalur Rahman, 23, of Larson Walk, London
• Peter Dillon, 30, of Burleigh Road South, Liverpool
• Michael Murphy, 21, of Noonan Close, Liverpool
• Michael Oginni, 24, of Vincent Road, Croydon
• George Mitchell, 19, of Gadswell Close, Watford
• Carl Gillespie, 44, of no fixed address
• Bronwyn McKenzie, 44, of no fixed address

McKenzie was due to appear at Hove Crown Court on Friday (7 April) but failed to turn up. Judge Jeremy Gold issued an arrest warrant not backed for bail.

Another suspect, Leondre Thomas, 21, of Clarence Road, London, was summonsed for conspiracy to supply class A drugs having already been remanded on unconnected matters.

A 25-year-old man who was arrested has been released on bail until tomorrow (Wednesday 12 April).

A 22-year-old woman has been bailed until Tuesday 9 May and a 53-year-old man, a 57-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman who were all arrested have all been bailed until Wednesday 10 May.

A 41-year-old man who was arrested and bailed until Monday 3 April failed to report on bail and is currently wanted.

A 33-year-old man has been bailed until Thursday 20 April, a 21-year-old man and a 20-year-old man have been bailed until Friday 5 May. A 62-year-old man and a 24-year-old man have been bailed until Monday 22 May.

A 27-year-old woman has been cautioned for having class A and B drugs.

A 27-year-old woman arrested was released without further action.