Police smash international drug gangs

POLICE smashed two major drugs gangs today with raids in London, Kent and across Britain.

More than 270 officers swooped on the homes of alleged ringleaders. They are suspected of importing millions of pounds of Class-A drugs from Spain and other European countries. Seventeen people were arrested.

It follows a 30-month inquiry into the supply of substances including cocaine and cannabis, money laundering and mortgage fraud. Kent's Serious and Organised Crime Unit, the national Serious Organised Crime Agency, City of London police and the Financial Services Authority all took part.

Detective Inspector Thomas Richards of Kent police said: "This is a very complex operation involving what we believe is a web of sophisticated criminal activity across the UK, Spain, France and other countries. We hope to have dismantled two very significant gangs."