Arrests and charges made during week-long crackdown on County Lines drug dealing in Sussex

Sussex Police said cash, drugs, weapons and mobile phones were seized as police and partners took part in the operation from Monday, October 9 to Sunday, October 15.

This has since resulted in a number of people being charged, including the following. All information comes directly from Sussex Police:

On Wednesday, October 11, police observed a suspected drugs deal take place in the vicinity of Max Miller Walk – the public walkway above Madeira Drive in Brighton.

A man was seen to get into a vehicle, which was subsequently stopped by police. The occupants were searched and a quantity of cash, drugs and mobile phones were discovered.

Zak Marsden, 34, of Normandy Road, Hastings, was arrested and charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Joel St Pierre, 31, of Goodwood Way, Brighton, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin, and assault on an emergency worker.

Both men have been remanded in custody to appear before Lewes Crown Court on November 10.

On Saturday, October 14, officers on patrol stopped a vehicle suspected to be concerned in drug supply in Beaconsfield Road, Brighton.

The driver was arrested after cash and Class A substances were found in the car.

Asllan Hasbajrami, 21, of no fixed address, has since been charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and obstructing or resisting police in the execution of duty.

He has been remanded in custody to appear before Lewes Crown Court on November 13.

On Monday, October 9, police witnessed a number of exchanges between a woman and members of the street community in New Steine Gardens, Brighton.

The suspect was followed and detained, and found to be in possession of cash and drugs, as well as a personal phone and a burner phone.

Mary Thorpe, 35, of Verdant Lane, Lewisham, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and possession of cannabis.

She has been remanded in custody to appear at a court yet to be confirmed on 8 November.

On Tuesday, October 10, police identified an Airbnb in Crawley which had been booked in the name of a suspected County Lines drug dealer.

A man was seen to enter the property in possession of a large holdall and then leave. He was stopped and searched, and found in possession of a number of wraps.

A search of the holdall revealed a quantity of cash, while further drugs were found within the property.

Anton Reynolds, 31, of Rathlin Road, Crawley, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, and possession of criminal property (cash).

He has been remanded in custody to appear before a court yet to be confirmed on November 10.

On Wednesday, October 11, a suspected drug dealer was stopped by Sussex Police officers working in partnership with the Met Police’s Op Orochi team in Fullwell Road, London, and searched.

A search of his address was carried out, where drugs were located.

Wayne McFarlane, 28, of Cornell Square, Lambeth, was arrested and charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

He has been remanded in custody to appear before a court yet to be confirmed on November 10.

A number of other suspects have been bailed pending further enquiries.

In Brighton, the vast majority of arrests were made in the vicinity of St James’s Street – this followed concerns raised by businesses and residents about open drug use in the area.

Inspector James Ward, of the Brighton Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I’d like to recognise the collective effort of everyone involved in this operation. There has been some incredible teamwork, invaluable support from partners and a lot of long shifts pulled.

“We have had some outstanding results and this was only achieved with the determination and desire by our teams to catch criminals.

“Locally, we have listened to concerns raised in the community about open drug use and we have taken action. This has resulted in a number of suspects being arrested and a large quantity of illegal drugs being removed from the streets.

“County Lines drug-dealing often involves the exploitation of vulnerable people and we would urge the public to continue to report any incidents of intelligence to us, so we can continue to disrupt those who cause the greatest harm to our communities.”