Police say they have arrested 16 suspected drug dealers accused of pushing heroin and cocaine in towns across east Kent.

The week-long operation took place earlier this month and saw officers crack down on those supplying the class A drugs.

Eight arrests were made in Margate, four were made in Ashford, and two each were in Canterbury and Folkestone.

Police say the drugs have an estimated street value of £9,500. Det Insp Marcus Whitnell said: “We are taking a robust stance against the supply of class A drugs in order to protect our communities.

“We have had dedicated teams of officers out in force to identify and arrest offenders and gain further intelligence about others responsible.

“We hope the visibility of our patrols and the results of this operation reassures residents that we are doing everything we can to keep people safe.

“Offenders dealing in drugs pose a significant threat to vulnerable adults and children, who they often rely on to facilitate crime.

“We work closely with our partners, schools and youth groups to educate young people about the dangers of violent crime and would ask parents, teachers and professionals to be vigilant and speak up if they believe a child is being exploited in this way.

“Young people may be attracted to organised crime because of a sense of belonging or financial gain. But it is important to remember that crime does not pay.”