Ten people have been arrested after police carried out a drugs raid in Maidstone.

Shortly before 1pm yesterday, officers executed the warrant at a house in Melville Road, Maidstone, after they received intelligence suggesting illegal drugs were being supplied from the address.

Nine people were arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled substances while another was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine. Eight suspects are currently under arrest, and being questioned. Two others have been bailed, pending further enquiries.

Those arrested were a 34-year-old man from Maidstone, who has been bailed until Thursday, May 24, in relation to possession of cocaine.

A 44-year-old man from Thornton Heath, Surrey was also bailed until the same date. The others arrested were: a 17 year-old woman from North London; a 17-year-old man and a 38-year-old man from Woolwich; two 18 year-old men and a 19-year-old man from Plumsted; a 43-year-old man from Maidstone and a 16-year-old woman from Shepherds Bush.

Insp Geoff Wyatt, who led the operation, said: "The supply and use of drugs in local communities leads to associated crime such as theft and anti-social behaviour, which is why we relentlessly pursue people that we suspect to be involved in this sort of activity. This warrant was planned around a combination of community concerns and intelligence that we had gathered. Our message to people involved in the drug trade in Maidstone is that we are actively seeking you and will look to arrest you and put you before the courts at every opportunity."

The raid follows a week of action in Maidstone earlier this month, when 12 people were arrested for similar drug-related offences.