More than £750,000 in suspected Class A drugs and cash seized in raids

More than £750,000 in cash and suspected Class A drugs has been seized by police after raids in Gateshead this week.

The raids were conducted by officers from Northumbria Police on Monday following an intelligence-gathering operation into the suspected supply of Class A drugs in the North East.

During the operation £250,000 in cash and more than 5kg of what is believed to be cocaine was seized which has an estimated street value of more than £500,000.

Detective Inspector Don Gibson, who has been leading on the operation, said it was satisfying to be able to take a significant amount of what are believed to be Class A drugs off the street.

He said: "We have carried out months of intelligence gathering into suspected drugs supply and this has enabled us to seize a significant haul of what is believed to Class A drugs.

"It is believed to be cocaine and so what we have seized could be worth as much as £1 million which is one of the biggest seizures we have had.

"Illegal drugs have a huge impact on our local communities whether that be through the supply itself or the associated violence and disorder that comes with it.

"Our officers will continue to gather intelligence on any suspected illegal activity and would encourage the public to report suspicious behaviour to us.

"By working together to take illegal substances off the streets, we can continue to make the Northumbria area a safer place for residents and visitors alike."

During the raids four men and one woman were arrested by police and this morning the four men were charged in connection with the seizures.

They appeared before magistrates in Bedlington today charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. Three of the men were remanded in custody until the next hearing at Newcastle Crown Court while a fourth man was released on bail.

The woman arrested following Monday's operation has been released under investigation.