POLICE have recovered �50,000 cash and arrested 15 suspected drug dealers in a series of dawn raids around Whitechapel this morning.

More than 350 officers were involved in the operation carried out in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Tower Hamlets police were joined by officers at the Territorial Support Group and the Met’s dog unit as they searched 18 addresses in the borough.

The 15 men arrested are now in custody at an east London police station. Thirteen of these are between 18 and 25 years old and two are aged between 40 and 50.

Detective Inspector Des McHugh from Tower Hamlets Police said: “We have again responded to concerns from residents and businesses that drug dealing was having a significant impact upon their daily lives.

“In addition we recognise that enforcement will also reduce crime committed in the local area to fund the purchase of illegal drugs.”