SIXTEEN people have been arrested after a drugs raid at a travellers' site in Kent.

The travellers, who were staying in Cuxton, near Strood, were arrested when about 150 officers swooped on to their site on Monday.

Police believe the campers on the site are responsible for peddling Class A drugs on to the streets of Medway. They are also linking a number of car crimes to the small encampment.

Police seized a large amount of suspected drugs and drugs equipment, including what is thought to be crack cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis plants.

Officers also found firearms and around £17,000 cash when they served a total of nine warrants under the operation called Kittyhawk. A number of suspected stolen vehicles were also recovered.

Chief Insp Gill Ellis said: "So far we have had a significant amount of success. We had a number of search warrants executed on the site and we have made several arrests."

Police believe the main offenders on the site have filled a hole in the drugs supply chain which was left when police took dozens of Medway’s drug dealers off the streets in a previous operation.

Chief Insp Peter Wedlake, of Medway Police, said: "We specifically targeted criminals who are operating at or near the travellers’ site.

"Our intelligence led us to believe that there is a small minority who currently live at, or near, the Cuxton site or on the land next to it who are responsible for this.

"The aim of the operation was to arrest those who are believed to be involved in drug dealing and its associated criminality.

"We are continuing to work to ensure that the law abiding residents of the area are able to enjoy a quality of life that is free from anti-social behaviour and nuisance."

Police arrested 10 people on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at the site, and a further six at other addresses in Medway.