Head to toe in full riot gear with balaclavas pulled over their heads, the mass of public order officers quietly surrounded the mid-terrace suburban home.
At about 5am, the autumn chill was pierced by shouts of 'police officers, this is a search warrant' and the thump of heavy boots stomping through the doorway.
The front door had been found unlocked so the officer wielding a battering ram dropped it to the ground with a disappointed shrug and stormed into the house with the others.
A few minutes later, a tiny Bulgarian woman in a purple dressing gown was led from the home in handcuffs into a waiting police van.
Shortly afterwards, a man wearing a red football shirt, shorts and flip flops was given the same treatment.
