Huge Drugs Haul Seized; Gun, Jewellery And Illegal Substances Discovered In Swoops On Homes And Businesses

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), June 4, 2009

Byline: ADAM JUPP

DRUGS worth hundreds of thousands have been seized in a series of strikes.

More than pounds 50,000 in cash, Rolex watches and a firearm were also recovered in the dawn raids.

Police stormed two houses and two businesses in Gateshead in the operation targeting crime gangs.

Four people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and another two held on suspicion of possession of cannabis.

The swoops were carried out by the new Total Policing Task Force, set up to disrupt organised villains working across the region.

Chief Insp John Van said: "These raids demonstrate our commitment to tackling organised crime groups.

"We are using powers within the Proceeds of Crime Act to make sure crime doesn't pay.

"The cocaine seized in Gateshead has a potential street value of more than pounds 1m.

"We are protecting our communities by taking the drugs off the streets, and we have hit the criminals where it hurts - in the pocket.'' The raids were on houses in Coltsfoot Gardens, Windy Nook, and Coniston, Pelaw, Gateshead.

Businesses on Reay Street, Bill Quay, and Heworth Way, Pelaw, were also busted.

Two-three kilos of cocaine, with an estimated street value of pounds 300,00, one kilo of heroin, worth pounds 100,00, amphetamine sulphate worth pounds 1,800 and pounds 8,000 of canabis resin was recovered.

Rolex watches, a plasma TV and designer shopping bags were also seized, along with an air weapon and more than pounds 50,000 in cash.

A 29-year-old man from Winlaton, a 54-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman, both from Felling, and a 19-year-old woman of Springwell, Gateshead, have been arrested over the alleged cocaine conspiracy. Two 25-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of cannabis possession.

The new force has brought together 60 detectives and uniformed officers to fight organised crime.

Headed by Det Chief Supt Neil Adamson, the unit aims to identify crooked clans causing most trouble in the five area commands of the Northumbria Police force.

The force's first operation on Monday saw them raid 13 properties linked to a gang in Newcastle's West End. That led to 14 arrests in Scotswood, Benwell, Arthur's Hill, Westerhope and Denton Burn.

Det Chief Supt Adamson said: "This is a fantastic result for the taskforce, on the back of our efforts on Monday, in which 14 people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal cars.

"We are committed to tackling crime groups wherever they operate and raids like the ones in Newcastle and Gateshead are going to happen in all the areas of the force.''