Digger used to ram home of 'drugs baron'

Updated 22.53 Wed Feb 13 2008

Keywords: cocaine, raids

Police have used a digger to ram the home of a suspected millionaire drug trafficker as raids were carried out across the South East.

More than 500 officers were involved in the dawn operation, codenamed Eaglewood, targeting a £100 million cocaine trafficking and money laundering empire.

Twenty-two people with British, Israeli, Iraqi, Egyptian and Irish backgrounds were arrested when 28 homes and businesses were raided

Twenty-two people with British, Israeli, Iraqi, Egyptian and Irish backgrounds were arrested when 28 homes and businesses were raided in central London, St John's Wood, Willesden, Twickenham, Hayes, Surrey and Essex.

Scotland Yard said it was the biggest ever simultaneous raid in London, with a total of 520 officers involved. An estimated 220lb (100kg) of suspected cocaine, cash and several firearms were seized.

One of the leaders of the gang was allegedly based at a £3 million detached home in Hayes, Middlesex, and police resorted to using the digger to crash through the brick and steel railing perimeter after finding the property was heavily fortified.

A police helicopter hovered overhead to illuminate the scene with a spotlight and dozens of officers wearing body armour ran inside after hydraulic equipment, angle grinders and sledgehammers were used to smash open the reinforced front and rear doors.

Six vehicles including a Porsche four-wheel drive, a Hummer and two Mercedes were parked in the driveway of the large property. Two men, believed to be a father and son, were arrested at the scene.

Meanwhile, in East Molesey, southwest London, 30 officers raided a modern three-storey home in Buckingham Avenue believed to be used by one of the gang's financial "middle men". Police said a 53-year-old man of Egyptian origin was arrested.

Detectives said some of the men lived lives of luxury similar to Premier League footballers, driving sports cars, frequenting London's best restaurants and jet-setting around the world.

More than 20 people were arrested prior to Wednesday's raids. Police have already seized almost £3 million in cash, 70kg (155lb) of cocaine with a street value of £500,000 and four guns, including one with a silencer.

Police said the gang used a taxi business, based in a shabby corrugated iron and breezeblock building, as their headquarters. Officers said up to £4 million passed through the innocuous taxi company every week as it also operated as a legitimate business.