It is the latest in a series of successes for the team of 20 officers, joint funded by Barking and Dagenham Council's housing Service and Barking and Dagenham Police.
Officers carried out a stop and search on a car in Barking because the driver was acting suspiciously on 26 July. Nothing was found, but later in the day further checks showed that the car had previously been involved in alleged drug dealing.
Later that afternoon the same vehicle was seen in Mark’s Gate. Again the circumstances were suspicious and the driver pulled away when police approached. It drove into a side road and police discovered 60 wraps of what is believed to be heroin and crack cocaine inside the car. Two men were arrested on suspicion of possessing class A drugs with attempt to supply. They are currently on police bail pending further enquiries.
The Safer Estates Police Team made 39 arrests in June. Other recent successes and operations include an arrest for suspected robbery in Heathway, five arrests for allegedly shining laser pens at helicopter pilots in Longbridge Road, weapons sweeps in Gascoigne, Althorne Way and Mark’s Gate, and burglary patrols in Thames View Estate.
The team was launched in the Spring to add extra policing support to Barking and Dagenham’s council estates and housing stock.
Cllr Phil Waker, Cabinet Member for Housing, Barking and Dagenham Council, said: "These arrests demonstrate in the clearest possible terms the real and positive benefits of strong partnership work between the council and the local police. Thanks to the work of the tenant-funded team which we have recently established, our estates are now safer and more secure. Together, we have made sure that a large haul of these vile drugs have been taken out of circulation.
"My thanks go to the police officers for their excellent work which I know will reassure many of our tenants and residents."
Inspector Richard Thomas said: "Drugs and drug related crime are a blight on the community that can have a very negative affect on the quality of life for local residents. The Estates Team will continue in their efforts to tackle both the sale and use of drugs and any other crime on our estates."