A restaurateur has told how he watched on in amazement as armed police converged on a village yesterday afternoon.

Jahir Ali had been in a flat above his restaurant when officers swooped in Meopham in a planned sting operation.

Mr Ali, who runs the Meopham Tandoori, said: "There was a commotion. I looked out of the window and saw a man on the ground being handcuffed.

"Another was being searched. It was quite quiet, there was no shouting.

"I could see guns. It seemed very organised. There were quite a few people around but everyone stayed calm."

Mr Ali tried to record the incident, which broke out in Wrotham Road at about 3.30pm, but was told by a policeman to stop.

He said there were about four to five officers, a marked police car and an unmarked vehicle at the scene.

He said: "I did not stay, but my staff said there was a police presence for several hours afterwards."

It was reported that officers were in an unmarked car near The Parade and jumped out to apprehend the suspects.

A witness said three officers were in a vehicle parked in Wrotham Road when they ran towards the parking area outside the parade of shops in the centre of the village.

A police spokesman confirmed yesterday two men had been arrested and both remained in custody.

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