Thirteen people have been arrested on suspicion of drugs offences and money laundering after officers executed warrants at eight addresses in Essex

The properties in Billericay, Canvey Island, Brentwood and Benfleet are all linked to an organised criminal gang believed to be involved in the distribution of class A drugs.

Officers discovered substantial quantities of drugs – including more than 650 wraps of class A substances found in two cars outside a property in Canvey Island – and recovered approximately £100,000 in cash, some of it encased in concrete.

A number of weapons, mobile phones and bags of counterfeit clothing were also seized.