Police have busted several homes in dawn raids in east London as part of an ongoing operation to disrupted organised drug dealing crime.

East London Advertiser: Police bust into property where quantity of cash was seized in Shadwell. Picture: Kois MiahPolice bust into property where quantity of cash was seized in Shadwell. Picture: Kois Miah (Image: Kois Miah 07903656411 mail@koism)

Five raids were carried out at Shadwell yesterday when four suspects were arrested and bags of cash were seized, thought to be around £8,000, as well as a Range Rover.

They were carried out as part of Operation Continuum with Tower Hamlets Council to stop drug-pushers operating across the East End, following other raids over the past 10 weeks.

Information has been gathered from covert surveillance by Tower Hamlets Homes housing organisation to pinpoint suspected drug dealers.

This has resulted in 19 suspects arrested so far since October and charged with drug supply or possession, 84 Antisocial Behaviour warning notices being issued, nine houses searched and five vehicles seized.

East London Advertiser: Cash haul grabbed by polic e during the dawn drugs raid. Picture: Kois MiahCash haul grabbed by polic e during the dawn drugs raid. Picture: Kois Miah (Image: Kois Miah 07903656411 mail@koism)

Tuesday’s raids add to the tally by the Met’s Tower Hamlets division with the launch this week of Operation Continuum.

“People tell us they want a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to drug dealing on the streets,” Det Supt Mark Broom said. “That is what we are doing.

“Shadwell is the first area we are focusing on, but drug dealers across Tower Hamlets should know that we are coming after them. We are out to catch drug dealers.”

Police and the local authority meet householders over the next seven days to follow up reports of antisocial behaviour.

Council officials are out helping rough sleepers and addicts needing treatment, while youth workers are offering activities to get youngsters off the streets.

Tower Hamlets Cabinet member Asma Begum said: “People tell us where there are hotspots of drug dealing and crime. We are working with the police to stamp out drug dealing, which is a plague across London.”

The council’s street CCTV network operated from a centre on the Isle of Dogs is helping police make three arrests a day, tracking and providing evidence against suspects.

The council is running a mobile unit at Shadwell for the next seven days to help households. It is ploughing £8 million into support services for drug and alcohol dependency which is estimated to save £20m from the public purse in the long term by reducing street crime.