FIVE people have been charged with drug-related offences in Essex after police executed six warrants across the county. 

Police raided addresses in St Osyth, Maldon, Basildon and Wickford on Friday morning before three men and two women were arrested and a number of significant items were seized. 

The busts - executed as part of an investigation into the supply of Class A drugs - were carried up by officers from Operation Mantis who were joined by more than 40 bobbies. 

John Pomfrett, 27, of Thistledown, Basildon, Rebecca Ingledew, 27, of Southend Road, Wickford and Joana Derrick, 48, of Great Mistley, Basildon have been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. 

They will appear next to Glen Harper, 37, of Dairy Farm Meadow, St Osyth, and Lindsipho Mtyanda, 31 of Lower Mardyke Avenue, Rainham London before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court this weekend. 

Mr Harper has been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply those drugs and acquiring or possessing criminal property, while Mr Mtyanda has been charged with conspiracy to supply a controlled drug and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. 

Sergeant Adam Jarvis, of Operation Mantis, said: “Over the course of the last eight months, officers from Operation Mantis have worked tirelessly, in addition to their daily workload, to progress intelligence culminating in this action. 

“My thanks go to colleagues from all teams who supported the investigation and helped to secure these significant charges.”