POLICE made five arrests over suspected drug dealing after stopping a taxi in a city centre street.

Officers swooped on the car in Trafalgar Street, Brighton, at 12.30pm yesterday and detained five people including two boys.

Witnesses described seeing a large police presence in the street with five people put into handcuffs outside music store Adaptatrap.

Sussex Police confirmed that two men, a woman and two boys had been detained after the force received a tip-off about drug-dealing in the area.

The Argus:

A spokesman said: “They were arrested on suspicion of drugs and weapon offences when police surrounded the taxi in Trafalgar Street at about 12.30pm following information received about alleged drug dealing in the area.

“Two men aged 24, of no fixed address, a 21-year-old woman from Brighton, a 17-year-old boy from Lambeth, London, and a 16-year-old boy from Bexley, London, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug.

“The 24-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. All remained in custody on Wednesday afternoon.”

The Argus:

The arrests were made by the recently formed Brighton tactical enforcement unit.

The team was launched in July and is now one of three dedicated teams based across Sussex to create a “hostile environment” for offenders.

It aims to crack down on those involved in serious violence, organised crime and county lines drugs gangs.