Sixteen people were arrested on Wednesday as part of a borough-wide crackdown on gangs and drugs.
Operation Big Wing saw 580 officers raid properties across Hoxton from 4am, securing arrests for the possession of class A drugs and goods bought with money gained through illegal activities.
The move was part of a joint initiative with Hackney Council aimed at tackling organised crime and gang violence.
Officers continued to search estates across the borough throughout the day. However, by the end there was a ratio of only one arrest for every 39 policemen taking part in the operation.
Following the dawn raids, 15 men were charged with drug offences and are appearing in court today. No further action was taken against one person.
Chief Superintendent and Hackney borough commander Matthew Horne said: “This operation has come about because local people are affected by the violence and theft that accompanies the drug dealing. Drug dealing is never victimless and its impact can ruin lives.”
Detective Chief Inspector and senior investigating officer for the operation, Jackie Sebire, said: “The operation has been focused on targeting those people who were dealing drugs in our community. Hackney Council and the Metropolitan Police Service are committed to ensuring our streets remain safe.”
Elected Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe added: “This is the latest in a series of police operations that the Council has helped to fund and support to bring criminal gangs to justice.
“We know our residents are rightly concerned about drugs and the violent criminality that goes with it, and we will continue to work closely with the police to tackle this issue.”
Operation Haka is part of wider police activity that took place across London yesterday. The Metropolitan Police ran a capital-wide day of visible activity to crack down on crime, under the banner of Operation Big Wing.
By 6.20pm yesterday, officers working on Operation Big Wing had arrested 387 people across London.
