A series of arrests have been made by police tackling anti-social behaviour and drug-related crime.

The operation, which took place across the Dartford and Gravesham districts, has also led to cash and vehicles being seized as officers patrolled the roads in marked and unmarked vehicles.

Eight arrests were made and class A drugs, cash and six vehicles seized.

Significant disruption was caused for people who are alleged to be involved in supplying heroin and cocaine, and a large amount of intelligence gathered which detectives are now reviewing.

Cannabis was found after a warrant was executed at an address in Sandpiper Close, Greenhithe, on May 3, along with £2,000 in cash – money that is suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

The next day a different warrant led to cocaine, with a street value of £2,500, being seized from a property in Havelock Road, Gravesend. Around £1,000 in cash, mobile phones and drug paraphernalia was also recovered. A 20-year-old man was arrested in connection with the warrant and he has since been released under investigation.

On May 6, 33 wraps of alleged class A drugs were seized after a vehicle was stopped in Victoria Road, Dartford. Caleb Umenyiora, 22, of Cotswold Gardens, East Ham, was later charged with possessing crack cocaine and heroin with intent to supply. He was additionally charged with driving without insurance or a licence and has been remanded in custody to appear before Maidstone Crown Court on June 6.

Six cars were seized over the course with the operation, including one which had been linked to a robbery in Hesketh Park at around 5pm on May 5.

The suspect car was stopped and seized later that night with two men, aged 18 and 22, also detained.

The older of the two men has been released on bail until May 29, with the younger released under investigation.

Then on May 13, officers were joined by volunteers from the Kent Special Constabulary to assist firefighters at a house fire in Pelham Road, Gravesend.

After the flames had been put out, a cannabis cultivation was found inside and plants with an estimated street value of £50,000 were removed. Efforts to trace any suspects are ongoing.

Other arrests were made as a result of additional proactive work, supported by the Metropolitan Police, when officers stopped a vehicle in Littlebrook on May 9.

Police believed one occupant was connected to a robbery in Temple Hill in January. A 20-year-old man was subsequently arrested and interviewed by officers before being released under investigation.

On May 11, the team was tasked with finding a teenage boy who is alleged to have breached a court order. He was tracked to a garden in Combfield Gardens, arrested and put before the court.

And an outstanding suspect for a domestic abuse case was also found by the Divisional Support Unit in Singlewell Road on May 3. He was taken into custody for an interview before being released on bail until May 26.

The operation also led to stolen property being recovered. A stolen vehicle was found abandoned in Sheridan Court with inquiries revealing it had been stolen from Orpington in January.

A stolen motorbike was also found at a property in Swanscombe on May 11. It had been taken from an address in Rochester earlier that week.

Inspector Trevor Jenner, from the Dartford Community Safety Unit, said: "Proactive policing takes place each and every day across north Kent and we will always target individuals who we suspect are causing harm to our communities.

"Our concentrated efforts over this particular fortnight caused considerable disruption to people who we allege are involved in organised criminality and we will continue to pursue the most proportionate outcome for these investigations.

"We will never show any tolerance for drug dealing and will always use a variety of tactics to take robust and proportionate action. This includes obtaining warrants to enter properties, or using intelligence reports to proactively search for, and stop, vehicles linked to criminality.

"Everyone has a role to play to help us stop drug dealing and residents with concerns about such offending in their area are urged to report it to us through our website or by calling 101. If a crime is in progress, dial 999."