Seven people have been arrested during a series of raids across Kent to tackle organised crime groups and cannabis supply.

A coordinated police operation began at 5.45 am yesterday, and saw officers simultaneously raid properties in Medway, Maidstone and the Isle of Sheppey as part of an investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

In Belmont Road, Gillingham, officers discovered a drugs factory established in four rooms of a property, whilst almost £3,000 in cash was found at a location in The Meadows, Tovil, along with further suspected evidence of cannabis supply.

At an address in Second Avenue, Queenborough, officers seized 59 sealed bags of cannabis weighing more than 1.5 kilograms as well as around £7,300 in cash.

Six men and a woman were arrested.

Craig Cook, aged 45, of Second Avenue, Queenborough was later charged with conspiracy to produce cannabis, being concerned in the supply of cannabis and money laundering offences.

Jake Everts, aged 29, of The Meadows, Tovil, was charged with conspiracy to produce cannabis and being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

Nam Vam Nguyen, aged 30, of no fixed address was also charged with producing cannabis. These three were all remanded in custody to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court today.

Two other suspects will also appear at court, on later dates. Kim Harvie, aged 45, of Second Avenue, Queenborough was charged with money laundering offences. She is bailed to Medway Magistrates’ Court on 13 May.

Daniel Kew, aged 44 of Second Avenue, Queenborough, was charged with conspiracy to produce cannabis and is bailed to the same court on 20 May.

The two other men arrested, aged 22 and 48, were released pending further investigation.

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