Seven arrested in Mile End raid with cash, drugs and gun seized

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Officers from the Central East Gangs Taskforce team executed a dawn raid at an address in Eric Street, E3.

Seven people were detained including a 15-year-old girl. Several hundred grams of drugs were thrown from the balcony in an attempt to dispose of the evidence as four of the suspects attempted to make a run for it.

Officers thoroughly searched the property and discovered a large scale drugs operation in place. Several bricks of suspected heroin and crack cocaine were recovered, with approximately 1000 wraps of each packaged up.

A ten-ton press and a money counting machine was also seized, as well as approximately £12,000 in notes and £15,000 in coins.

In the kitchen, officers found a loaded 9mm firearm with magazine on top of a cooker wrapped in a towel.

Six males, all believed to be aged in their teens to 20s, and one female, aged 15, were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs, manufacture of class A drugs and firearms offences.

All are in custody.

Detective Sergeant Sam Livesey, investigating, said: “My team are delighted to have seized such a substantial amount of drugs and a dangerous weapon. This is the result of our hard work and will make London’s streets all the safer.

“The Gangs Taskforce at Central East, covering Hackney and Tower Hamlets, are absolutely committed to targeting the most serious and violent criminals. Operations like this are evidence that if you are involved in serious criminality, you can expect to see us at your door soon.”