A string of late-night drug busts have led to seven 16 to 21 year olds and a 50-year-old woman arrested in south London.

Kent Police were led to the capital while tracking down gangs believed to be supplying class A drugs operating in Medway.

Their investigations led to dramatic action when, in the early hours of this morning (May 11), police executed a series of warrants across south London.

Ten people were arrested in a flurry of drug busts, including eight people in south London, on a wide array of charges including supplying drugs, possessing firearms, and money laundering.

These included two teenagers and a 50-year-old woman from Thornton Heath, a 21-year-old from Eltham, a 20-year-old from Eltham, an 18-year-old from Croydon, and an 18-year-old from Norwood.

The arrests were part of Operation Jupiter, a Kent Police operation to target organised crime.

Police say that it’s not unusual for them to travel from other parts of the country to locate the source of drugs being supplied into the county.

Chief Inspector Tracey Quiller, from Kent Police, said: “Today’s activity highlights our ongoing commitment to tackle organised criminals operating in Kent.

“It demonstrates our continued efforts to prevent gang-related activity and ensure that Kent remains a safe place to live, work and visit.

“These warrants show that Kent Police will relentlessly target suspected criminals operating in the county, regardless of where they may live.”

The arrests and charges in full are:

• A 21-year-old man from Eltham was arrested on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug, possessing ammunition without a certificate; and assault.

• A 16-year-old boy from Thornton Heath was arrested on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug.

• A 20-year-old man from Greenwich was arrested on suspicion of possession of heroin with intent to supply, possession of cocaine with intent to supply and money laundering.

• An 18-year-old man from Norwood was arrested on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug.

• An 18-year-old man from Croydon was arrested on suspicion of possession of heroin with intent to supply.

• A 17-year-old girl from Thornton Heath was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate.

• A 50-year-old woman from Thornton Heath was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate.

• A 23-year-old man from Gillingham was arrested on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug.

• A 20-year-old man from Brixton was arrested on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug.

• An 18-year-old man from Barking, Essex, was arrested on suspicion of possession of heroin with intent to supply.