Drug raid at former Rastafarian temple

LONDON, April 12 (UPI) -- Police in London arrested 23 people Thursday in a drug raid at a former Rastafarian temple.

Police said the property, which is made up of three houses, had been used for years as a Rastafarian temple but in recent weeks was taken over by drug dealers, the Telegraph reported.

The suspects were allegedly dealing marijuana and crack cocaine, police said.

Chief Superintendent Martin Bridger, area commander for the London borough of Lambeth, told the newspaper the raid followed weeks of surveillance. Police have arrested 200 people leaving the former temple on drug charges, he said.

Bridger said leaders of the Rastafarian community had told police the property had been taken over by drug dealers.