Seven arrested following drug raids by police across Gateshead

A series of early morning raids have put a serious dent in the North East drugs supply chain as officers seize £200,000 worth of cocaine.

More than 40 officers from across the Force were deployed to addresses across Gateshead on Friday morning (January 28) to execute warrants and searches at seven separate properties as part of a continued clampdown on organised crime.

The activity, which was carried out as part of Operation Sentinel and supported by teams from across the Force, as well as the North East Regional Special Operations Unit (NERSOU) and the National Crime Agency (NCA), targeted addresses in Bensham, Deckham, Beacon Lough and even included searches of a garage near Gateshead town centre.

Specialist officers also seized two kilos of cocaine, believed to have a street value of around £200,000, recovered four stolen motorbikes, £1,200 cash and arrested six men aged between 17 and 38 and a 35-year-old woman.

Praising the continued efforts of Operation sentinel, Chief Inspector Alan Pitchford of Northumbria Police said:

“This is an incredible effort which has been made possible thanks to the hard work and determination of all our officers, including our Special Constables, partners from NERSOU and the NCA as well the members of the community who continue to support us in making their neighbourhoods a better place.

“Under the banner of Operation Sentinel, we will continue to tackle serious and organised crime though intelligence gathering and regular disruption activity.

“Illegal drugs have no place here and we stand with our communities who are fed up of offenders preying on the vulnerable and using their neighbourhoods to try and further their criminality and make money regardless of the harm caused.

“We will continue to protect our communities by preventing addictive, harmful substances from being sold on our streets and by making sure those who find themselves with addictions are signposted to the appropriate recovery services, ran by our partners as part of Project Adder.

“We hope this activity sends out a strong message that shows we will not allow this kind of illegal activity to continue unchallenged, and we will use every tactic at our disposal to ultimately bring perpetrators to justice.”

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, said:

“Criminals like this have no thought for anyone other than themselves - their criminal intent and their own greed. They prey on the vulnerable, the deprived, and they exploit them and destroy lives. Drug trafficking, crime, poverty - it’s all interlinked.

"The success of Project Adder is a credit to all involved and this really is just a snapshot of the dedicated policing activity that goes on behind the scenes to get those who are responsible off our streets.

"These results show that the fight against drug crime is very much on across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and my Violence Reduction Unit will continue with its work to help those who may be exploited and tackle the hardships they face.”

If you believe someone in your community is involved in drug-related criminality, please report it to police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101.

You can also pass on information via independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by ringing 0800 555 111.