Police have seized almost 1,000 wraps of heroin and cocaine, and nearly £4,000 in cash as part of a crackdown on drugs gangs in Essex.

Operation Essex ran throughout October, during which more than 53 people were arrested and a series of raids carried out.

Officers from across the force took part, such as the Operational Support Group which executing warrants while traffic units used automatic number plate recognition to clamp down on criminals as they drove around the county.

Offenders were arrested for a range of crimes including possession with intent to supply, carrying a knife and causing grievous bodily harm.

Three were arrested after a raid on October 12 on a property in St Peter’s Street, Colchester.

Libby Goswell, 19, and Liam Smith, 32, both of St Peter’s Street, each face two charges of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug. Goswell also faces a money laundering charge. They have both denied the charges and are due to stand trial in February.

A third Colchester man, 36, arrested on suspicion of drugs supply, has been released under investigation.

Elsewhere in north Essex, on October 11 officers arrested Ayo Awoyera, 21, during a stop check in Nayland Drive, Clacton. He is due to stand trial in January over two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, two counts of possessing a Class B drug and money laundering.

On the same day Paul Alexander, 52, of Station Road, Colchester, was arrested. He was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 10 to XXXXX for two counts of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply.

Chief Superintendent Paul Wells, Essex Police’s lead for Operation Raptor – an ongoing drugs operation – said: “Every single day our officers continue to make sure our county is a no-go area for those involved in drug and gang-related crime.

“Throughout October teams worked hard to proactively target those involved.

“But our work does not stop there. We will continue to ensure there is no place to hide for these criminals in our county.

“If you are looking to come to Essex to commit drug or gang-related crime it will only be a matter of time before you are in our cells.”

If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community, contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.