Nine people have been arrested following dawn warrants across the country as part of ongoing inquiries into the importation of drugs.

The arrests were made after searches carried out by officers from Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate at properties in Margate, Orpington, Sunderland and Stockton-on-Trees.

The investigation also concerns the national distribution of class A drugs believed to have been committed between March 2020 and December 2021.

In total nine people were arrested on suspicion of money laundering and conspiracy to supply and import class A drugs. Officers seized cash, phones, vehicles, and high-value items such as Rolex watches during the searches.

Those arrested include a 31-year-old man during a search warrant in Berrylands, Orpington, a 36-year-old man during a search warrant in Westbrook Avenue, Margate, a 49-year-old man during a search warrant in Ravenna Road, Sunderland, a 41-year-old man during a search warrant in Meadow Court, Stockton-on-Tees and a 40-year-old woman during a search warrant in Broadwater Gardens, Orpington.

Two men aged 33, another aged 30, and a fourth man, aged 35, were also arrested and interviewed in connection with this investigation.

They remain in prison where they are already serving sentences for unrelated offences.

All those taken into custody remain there whilst inquiries are ongoing.