A HASLEMERE man was arrested as part of a massive drugs swoop in which 35 addresses were raided by armed police officers and the county's largest ever haul of ecstasy tablets seized.
Daniel Clark (29) of Sunvale Avenue is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Monday (March 31) after he was charged with dealing cocaine and ecstasy and perverting the course of justice.
Clark was arrested in the early hours of Thursday March 20 as 330 police officers – many of them armed – swooped on 35 addresses across West Surrey and North East Hampshire.
An address in Hindhead was also raided by police but nothing was found there.
The force claims that the arrest of 22 people during the raids – including Clark, a Surrey policeman and a Surrey Police civilian employee – has smashed a major crime gang.
An estimated 200,000 Ecstasy tablets, with a street value of massive £2 million, were seized by officers who also recovered £125,000 worth of cannabis and £60,000 worth of cocaine.
Officers also seized firearms including a fully loaded sawn-off shotgun, two handguns and a Tazer stun gun, nine luxury cars including a Porsche and Lexus, a skunk factory and pill press to manufacture ecstasy tablets, along with tens of thousands of pounds cash.
The officer leading the investigation, Superintendent Mick Day, said the arrests represented a significant success in the fight against organised crime in Surrey.
"This gang operated as a commodities group illegally supplying whatever commodity could make them money. This operation is a big step towards our aim of Surrey safe for all of those who live and work here," Superintendent Day said.
Superintendent Day added that the effects of the raids will be felt in the criminal fraternity for many months to come.
The raids were the result of an undercover police operation which centered on criminals who regularly used the Budokan Gymnasium in Frimley. Police kept the gym sealed off from the public for all of last Thursday.
Speaking this week, Waverley's crime prevention advisor and former police officer John Robini was pleased with news of the investigation's success.
"There is no doubt that there is a link between thefts and other crimes and people having to get money to pay for drugs. Drugs arrests are welcomed by the community as a whole as well as the police," Mr Robini said.
Clark appeared at Woking Magistrates last Friday where he was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and ecstasy and perverting the course of justice.
Pc Kevin Davies (28) of Farnborough, and Surrey police civilian employee Emma Barnett (29) also of Farnborough also appeared at Woking Magistrates last Friday. The pair appeared with the same three charges as Clark.
The three were remanded in custody until March 31.
Superintendent Day commented: "This action shows the determination of Surrey Police to crack down on organised crime and in particular the supply of Class A drugs. The Communities Against Drugs partnership funding has played an important part in making today's operation possible."