Bexhill drugs haul biggest for a decade

It was the biggest haul of drugs in the town for a decade. Police were led to the property after stopping a car in Eastbourne and finding 8,000 in used banknotes on board.

They found nothing at the driver's Sidley home but at the garage - one of a secluded block behind Peterhouse in Old Town - seized a haul of 392 bars of cannabis resin weighing a total of 96 kilos, sophisticated hydroponics equipment for growing marijuana, 26 grammes of cocaine worth 1,000 and a further 3,000 in cash.

Officers loaded boxfuls of the cannabis resin blocks into the back of a van to be taken away and tested at a laboratory.

A police spokesman said it was one of the most sophisticated cannabis-growing outfits he had seen.

Simon Wisdom, 46, of Calgary Road, appeared before magistrates at Eastbourne yesterday charged with possession of cannabis and cocaine with intent to supply.

He entered no plea to either charge and was remanded in custody until January 15.

The sting was part of a huge Eastbourne Police operation named Fracture II, involving more than 50 officers including dog, traffic and public order units.