The success of Project Adder means police in Hastings are continuing to disrupt the production and supply of drugs in the town a force spokesman said this week.

Officers executed a warrant at an address in Harkness Drive on Wednesday, July 14th after receiving community intelligence that drug-related activity was taking place inside the property.

Two men were seen to flee from the address, they were tracked using a police drone and arrested in a nearby industrial estate on suspicion of being concerned in the production of a controlled Class B drug and abstracting electricity.

The address was searched and 58 mature cannabis plants and 354 saplings were found inside. These were all seized and destroyed by police.

The two men were interviewed and have been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Another warrant was executed at a property in Chiltern Drive, Hastings, on Friday, July 23rd.

As officers entered the flat, an item was seen to be thrown from a window. This was later recovered and found to be a carrier bag containing a brown powder suspected to be heroin.

The flat was searched and further wraps of suspected Class A drugs were found, as well as cash and a machete.

A man and a woman were both arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled Class A drug – heroin. They have been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

The work forms part of Project Adder – an initiative aimed at reducing drug-related crime and protecting people from harm.

Project Adder was launched earlier this year by the Home Office with the aim of tackling drug-related harm and reducing drug-related deaths in five key areas across the UK.

As one of those five areas, Hastings will benefit from a share of the £148 million investment in the scheme, which will run until March 31, 2023.

Led locally by East Sussex County Council and Sussex Police, Project Adder has seen an increased focus on enforcement action against those involved in drugs production and supply, safeguarding those who are vulnerable and at risk of exploitation, and treatment and recovery for those suffering from addiction.

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