Eight men have been jailed for a combined total of more than 24 years’ imprisonment for numerous drug supply offences in Tower Hamlets following a four-month covert surveillance operation.

The men, who were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, 23 August, were convicted following a series of raids and arrests made in June and July in east London. This comes as part of a long-term crackdown on the supply of drugs, violence and anti-social behaviour in the Whitechapel area.

Today’s result follows the sentencing of 16 men on Friday, 17 August to a combined total of more than 49 years in relation to the same investigation.

The operation, known as ‘Continuum’ is a partnership operation between police, Tower Hamlets Council and local housing associations.

A total of 50 individuals have been charged in connection with the investigation, and over the past two months, 32 men and four male youths have pleaded guilty to over 70 drug offences.

An additional 10 individuals arrested in connection with the investigation have been released on bail.

More than 300 officers were involved in the raids, led by Tower Hamlets officers, with additional support from the Territorial Support Group (TSG), surrounding boroughs and the Met’s Dog Unit.
During searches of more than 50 addresses, officers seized over £60,000 in cash, over half a kilo of Class A drugs and four stun-guns.