Police seized large knives – including a Rambo knife – drugs paraphernalia and cash after finding the items near Firstsite in Colchester.
Essex Police approached a group of around 20 people congregating in Lewis Gardens at around 6.50pm on Tuesday.
They ran off and officers found paraphernalia and cash on the floor.
Officers arrested a 18-year-old man from Colchester on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon following the discovery.
He was later released without charge.
While he was being detained, the rest of the group ran from the scene.
A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We take a zero tolerance approach to the carrying of knives and every weapon take off the streets is one less weapon that can fall into the wrong hands.
“These weapons will now be destroyed.”
Anyone with information about the incident should call police on 101.
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