ONE of Kent’s biggest co-ordinated police raids took place in Thanet last night. Operation Tractor involved 100 officers from across the county, including dog handlers and tactical teams.

Drugs. including ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis were seized and have been sent for scientific analysis. A dozen flats and houses - six in Margate and six in Ramsgate - were the subject of the warrants in a five hour blitz. A police spokeswoman said that 17 people had been arrested in connection with alleged drug and theft offences.

She said: “Our aim was to target the drugs network that exists in Thanet as it does in almost every area in the UK. Warrants are a very effective way of gathering intelligence. Drug use and supply has a very strong link with other crimes like theft and burglary - one impacts on the other.”

None have been charged and they are being questioned by detectives are Thanet police headquarters in Margate today.

Money, electrical goods, clothing and wild birds eggs were also recovered. Operation Tractor, which has been in the planning stages since Christmas, is one of the largest co-ordinated raids in Thanet for years.