31 charged after dawn drugs raids

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More than 800 officers searched 55 addresses in Southampton, London, Slough in Berkshire, and Solihull in Birmingham early on Wednesday morning.

Police arrested 51 people in the raids, the third phase of Operation Phoenix, an 18-month investigation into class A drug-dealing, money-laundering, theft and firearms crime.

A police spokeswoman said 31 people had been charged for a variety of offences including supply of Class A drugs, forgery and counterfeit offences, firearms and handling stolen goods.

They all appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court.

Of the other people arrested, four have been released on bail and the remaining 16 are still in custody at police stations across Hampshire.

Police are still examining items seized, which so far include about £15,000 in cash and a "significant quantity" of drugs, the spokeswoman said.

A total 38 properties were raided in Southampton and 15 in London, plus one in Slough and one in Solihull.

Metropolitan Police officers raided addresses in west London, Tottenham in north London, Sutton and Croydon.

The first two phases of Operation Phoenix in 2005 and 2006 led to 88 convictions for drug and theft offences.