Ten people in court following series of police raids in Thanet, Croydon and Surrey

Ten people have appeared in court charged with being part of a drug-dealing ring following a series of early-morning arrests.

Specialist police teams simultaneously entered and searched properties in Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Birchington, Canterbury, Croydon and Surrey on Thursday 3 April 2025.

Ten men and two women who are suspected of being part of an organised crime group were arrested on suspicion of various offences.

Suspected cocaine and ketamine have also been seized, along with a large amount of cash, phones and high-value watches.

As part of the investigation:

• Bertie Payne, 29, of Plumstone Road, Birchington; and Peter Nichols, 50, of Ellington Road, Ramsgate; are charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine and money laundering.
• Massimo Fierro, 27, of Shottendane Road, Birchington, is charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and ketamine.
• Mitchell Laing, 27, of Lime Trees, Minster, is charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering.
• Klein Taylor, 28, of King Street, Ramsgate; Reece Stovell, 28, of St Benet’s Road, Westgate-on-Sea; Harry Hathaway, 31, of Kingsgate Avenue, Broadstairs; Waqas Bashir, 34, of Ford Road, Woking; and Karen Gordon, 51, of Ellington Road, Ramsgate; are all charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine.
• Halim Lashi, 30, of Lynwood Garden, Croydon, is charged with money laundering.

The defendants appeared before various magistrates’ courts on Friday 4 April and nine of the group were remanded in custody to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday 2 May. Karen Gordon was bailed until that date.

Another man and a woman arrested as part of the investigation have been released on bail pending further enquiries.