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Five charged after big drugs seizure

Northumbria Police

8 December 2011


Five men have been charged following a region-wide operation where drugs estimated to be worth around a million pounds were seized.
The operation was co-ordinated by the Regional Organised Crime Unit  and officers believed they have stopped potentially lethal drugs reaching the north east ahead of the festive party season.
The Regional Organised Crime Unit is made up of officers from Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland forces and works to dismantle and disrupt organised crime groups across the region.
The operation was set up a number of weeks ago and on Tuesday, December 6, officers arrested two men in Coventry. Later in the day a further two men were stopped driving their car in Doncaster. Officers found around ten kilos of white powder, suspected to be amphetamine.
A further two men were arrested in Blyth and a search of an industrial unit in Killingworth led to officers discovering over 200,000 tablets, some which are ecstasy (a class A drug), together with amphetamine, (a class B drug), other class C drugs  and a mixing agent.
In total the drugs are thought to have a street value of around £1m.
Detective Superintendent Steve Howes from the Regional Organised Crime Unit said: "This was a large seizure of illegal drugs which has taken officers across the north east and beyond.
"We have intercepted a massive amount of potentially lethal drugs which were destined for our streets, potentially in time for Christmas. The misery drugs cause is well documented and we are committed to targeting those who seek to prey on others by selling or dealing drugs."
Five men have been charged with conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs and have been remanded to appear before North Tyneside Magistrates this morning (Thursday, December 8).
A sixth man, aged 39 and from Blyth, has been bailed pending further enquiries.