POLICE have arrested a total of 31 people in a series of drug raids over the Isle of Thanet since Tuesday.

Operation Pirate began at 5am with addresses in Westgate, Margate and Ramsgate visited by more than 100 officers.

The aim of the operation is to smash Thanet's drugs distribution network and all those arrested - 24 men, six women and one 15-year-old girl - were picked up on suspicion of drug-related offences.

Most were from Thanet but some were from addresses in London raided with the help of the Metropolitan Police.

In summary: 15 people have been charged, put before courts and remanded into custody; two people have been charged and bailed to appear at court at later date; 13 people have been bailed pending further enquiries; one person has been released without charge.

Of the 15 people charged and put before magistrates, all have been remanded into custody to appear in court at a later date.