FIVE people have been charged with conspiring to supply drugs after £436,000 of cocaine was seized during raids in Portsmouth.
The group is alleged to be part of a ring working together in the Portsmouth area.
Detectives from Hampshire Constabulary’s Major Investigation Team swooped after drugs were seized in two raids in the city – one in May and one in July.
Tests by forensics experts revealed the hauls were cocaine.
Police say the Class A drugs would have had a potential street value of £436,000 if peddled on the streets.
Detectives investigating drug dealing in the area have now arrested and charged Jay Connor, 34, of Main Road, Chichester, Daniel Pennery, of Stride Avenue, Copnor, Portsmouth, Amanda Pennington, 46, of South Parade, Southsea, Portsmouth, and Brian Philpott, 52, of Wellesley Close, Waterlooville.
The four have been charged with conspiracy to supply class A cocaine.
They were arrested during raids at properties in Chichester, Portsmouth and Waterlooville last month.
They have each been remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Crown court in March.
Meanwhile Spencer Stent, 30, of Summersdale Road, Chichester, has been arrested and charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine following two further raids – one near Chichester and the other at West Wittering – later last month.
He is also remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court in March.
A further five people arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs in connection with the investigation have been released on police bail pending further inquiries,
They are a 26-year-old Portsmouth woman, a 29-year-old Waterlooville man, a 28-year-old Chichester woman, a 65-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman.
The address details of the final two suspects had last night not been released by police. They are all due to answer bail in January.
Anyone with information about suspected drug dealing should call police on 101.