POLICE have vowed to crack down on criminal gangs plaguing a housing estate after a drug dealer was jailed for more than two years.

Vaqas Azam, of Lornes Close, Southend, was suspected by residents to be hawking drugs around the Balmoral estate in Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff.

The 23-year-old was also thought to be part of a gang.

As a result, he was brought to the attention of Essex Police’s anti-gang squad Operation Raptor.

Officers from the unit arrested Azam on June 15 and found him in possession of 31 wraps of crack cocaine, cannabis and a flick knife.

Sgt Ash Holland, of Southend’s Operation Raptor unit, said police were able to act on intelligence received from residents.

He said: “We carried out additional patrols and found Azam who matched the description.

“He was in possession of class A and class B drugs and a knife.”

Azam admitted possession with intent to supply heroin, possession of cannabis and possession of a knife when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court earlier this year.

He was jailed for a total of 28 months when he returned to the court for sentencing last week.

Mr Holland said the sentencing should reassure residents of the estate that action is being taken against drug dealers.

He said: “It’s a good result for people on the Balmoral estate. There is a lot of work going on with the council and South Essex Homes.

“It’s an area that has received a considerable amount of attention over the past couple of months.

“This result with a significant sentence should reassure residents that there is action being taken and people who are out there committing crimes on their estate are going to face punishment.”

Operation Raptor has carried out more than 660 arrests since it started in May 2014.

Officers have also seized drugs worth more than £1.2million and carried out more than 220 warrants.

Residents have been calling for an increased presence on the estate since a young mum-to-be was killed in a suspected arson attack earlier this year.

Khabi Abrey, 30, died from smoke inhalation two days after a suspected arson attack in a communal hallway in the Grampian flats in Balmoral Road, Westcliff, on May 7.

Following her death, residents held a public meeting where they told police crime was out-of-control in the area.

There have also been calls to install more CCTV.