DRUG raids across the Isle of Thanet on Tuesday resulted 22 arrests. Among them was a girl of 15, suspected of supplying a Class A drug.

Operation Pirate was launched by police in an attempt to smash the drugs networks in the district and began at 5am. There were raids on addresses in Westgate, Margate and Ramsgate, as well as co-ordinated raids in London.

Fourteen people were held after the dawn raids, with a further eight being arrested later in the day. Most are from Thanet, with just four from London.

The charges range from supplying heroin and crack cocaine, to aiding in the supply of and possessing Class A drugs. The suspects appeared in court on Wednesday.

Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Leppard, who heads up Kent Police’s specialist operations, said: “This type of considered intelligence-led work is part of a continual investment by Kent Police to tackle the drugs trade and other crimes associated with it.

"We know that large scale raids work really well to disrupt and destroy drugs networks and we’ll continue to do this.

“Kent Police is committed to stamping out organised crime linked to drugs. This force will continue to work with communities to flush out the drug dealers and gather the evidence to prosecute them successfully.”

“The efforts of all those involved undoubtedly also help prevent lives being blighted by the misery that drugs cause.”

For updates on Operation Pirate as it progresses in the coming days, log on to www.kentonline.co.uk, listen to kmfm 107.2 or see the Thanet Extra next week.