'Lethal highs' seized in Newcastle
Search warrants carried out under section 39 of the new Psychoactive substances act
Police have seized a number of 'lethal highs' during an operation in Newcastle.
Early on Thursday morning (June 23) and Friday morning (June 24) officers carried out search warrants at addresses in Gosforth and Byker as part of an operation aimed at identifying people involved in the dealing of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).
The warrants were under section 39 of the new Psychoactive substances act.
During the search of the Gosforth address officers found and seized 156 packages containing substances labelled as NPS.
A 49-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of supplying psychoactive substances.
During the Byker property search officers seized 27 individual deals of NPS and arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of supplying psychoactive substances.
A large amount of cash suspected to be linked to the selling of NPS was also seized and will now be subject to an investigation - if found to be have been made through criminal gains then it will be seized under the proceeds of crime act.
All those arrested during the operation have been bailed pending further enquiries and all of the substances seized will now be sent away for testing.
Central Area Command Chief Inspector Dave Pickett said:
"This is just the latest activity in the ongoing work to take action against those who we think are involved in the dealing and distribution of NPS.
We are focusing our attention on those at the top of the food chain and those responsible for bringing it into the city and selling it on our streets. They are peddling these dangerous substances and are directly responsible for causing misery to our communities and putting lives in danger.
The term 'legal high' is no longer correct or acceptable for these substances. Due to changes in legislation they are now illegal and because of what we have seen them do to people then the term 'lethal highs' is much more appropriate because they really are putting peoples' lives at risk.
We are proud to be one of the most pro-active forces in the country in tackling NPS and getting it off our streets. This is down to the work of some truly dedicated officers and the help of our partners at the local authority and ambulance service.
This partnership will continue and working together we will help to get it off the streets of Newcastle."