Police searching East End housing estate for weapons find drugs haul

Police carrying out a special search on a housing estate in London’s East End for weapons have uncovered a stash of drugs.

The haul included 50 bags of drugs containing Class A and cannabis, according to police sources.

Officers from the Stepney neighbourhood team went onto the huge Clichy Estate in Stepney Way with an official from Tower Hamlets Council’s anti-social behaviour unit as part of Operation Hawk last Friday.

They were searching lock-up sheds in a general sweep looking for weapons as part of an ongoing operation across Tower Hamlets that began last summer.

Neighbourhood Pc Matt Laffan said: “The weapon sweep is a great result and has removed many dangerous items from the streets.”

But this time they also hit the jackpot when they found the drugs and paraphernalia that goes with it, as well as weapons.

Officers searching through an unoccupied shed found bolt croppers, hammers, knives, a machete and various other items hidden among the 50 bags stored there. The drugs and weapons were all seized by police and investigations are ongoing.