tally of alleged drug dealers to 24.

Police said six would be appearing in Magistrates' Court today.

Meanwhile, Randolph Ball -- one of two arrested in the Police blitz to plead guilty -- faces sentencing on July 14.

Yesterday Senior Magistrate Will Francis adjourned his case for a social inquiry report. Ball, a father-of-one, was remanded in custody.

Operation Cleansweep, spearheaded by Scotland Yard's Det. Supt. Paul William Hoare, involved American undercover narcotics officers and video-taping of alleged deals.

It started some three months ago. As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Police said 24 people had been detained since June 4. One was arrested on Monday afternoon and six more yesterday.

Seventeen people have so far appeared in court to face charges of supplying such drugs as heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis.

"The latest arrests occurred at residences Islandwide,'' said Police spokeswoman Evelyn James Barnett.

Magistrates' Court was packed yesterday for the anticipated sentencing of Ball. Among those in the public gallery were Supt. Hoare and other senior Policemen.

A video cassette recorder was in place for the prosecution testimony.

Ball, of Rock Valley, Rocklands, Warwick, has admitted two counts of supplying crack cocaine.

The offences occurred in Middle Road, Warwick, near the PHC Stadium on May 12 and 14.

It is claimed Ball on each occasion approached a Drug Enforcement Administration officer and sold crack cocaine, worth $75 and $50.

Yesterday his lawyer, Phil Perinchief, said Ball, a single parent with a two-year old daughter, had no previous convictions.

He added a social inquiry report would help Mr. Francis decide on an appropriate sentence.

Senior Crown Counsel Brian Calhoun raised no objections.

He anticipated the court would impose a sentence greater than the time needed to prepare a report.

Mr. Francis said: "There may well be something in this man's background I should know about and which can best be determined by a social inquiry report.

"That way I can know what social factors were acting on him to cause him to behave in the way he has.'' Seven more arrested in drugs' crackdown Mr. Francis suggested probation officers could sometimes prepare a report more quickly on someone remanded in custody.

He adjourned the hearing until 2.30 p.m. on July 14.

Curtis Grant, 26, of Beacon Hill Road, Sandys Parish, one of those arrested in the "Cleansweep'' operation, will reappear in Magistrates' Court next Tuesday.

Yesterday he appeared before Senior Magistrate Will Francis and his bail was extended.

Grant was bailed last Friday following a dispute over the weight of drugs involved in the allegation against him.