A HAUL of drugs, weapons and thousands of pounds of cash was discovered in an early morning police raid.

After receiving intelligence from members of the public of suspected drug dealing at an address in Pantile Avenue, Southend, drug squad officers carried out an early morning raid at 6.30am on Thursday.

During the raid, they found cannabis, heroin and crack cocaine alongside more than £3,000 in cash.

A number of phones, scales and weapons were also seized.

Officers believe the haul is connected to county lines drug dealing.

Trevor Harp, a St Luke’s ward councillor, said: “I’m pleased to see that the police are taking action against such crimes.

“Drug dealing, weapons and the like is definitely dangerous and a concern to us all, so anything being done to shut it down is fantastic.

“We don’t want anything like it in our town.

“The police obviously have strong intelligence which they’re getting from residents, and I encourage more people, if they have any information or are suspicious, to get in touch with the police. You can also always contact Crimestoppers anonymously for free.

Four people have been charged in connection with the incident.

Rochelle Tunstall, 31 of Pantile Avenue, Southend; John Abrahams, 30, of Lynmouth Road, Stamford Hill, North London; Michael East, 32, of Pantile Avenue, Southend and; Samantha Burges, 27, of Hayling Island, Hampshire, have since been charged in connection with the incident.

A spokesperson from Essex Police said: “Four people appeared at Southend Magistrates Court on Friday March 13, to face drug-related charges.

“Officers from the South Operation Raptor team executed a warrant in Pantile Avenue, Southend on Thursday March 12 and arrested four people.

“All four have now been charged with three counts each of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and one count each of possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply.”

The defendants appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Friday and were remanded into custody.