A total of 37 people have now been arrested and 21 charged as a result of Operation Hornet, the investigation by Northumbria Police in Gateshead aimed at disruption the supply of illegal drugs in the Birtley area.
The operation got underway on Friday, September 12, with 130 officers in 22 vehicles raiding ten houses in Birtley and one in Washington. Drugs, cash and other assets to a total value of £120,430 have now been recovered. This includes cocaine with an estimated street value of £50,000 and 15 kilos of cannabis resin with an estimated street value of £25,000.
The total people arrested, 35 men and two women, ranged in age from 18 to 71.
Of those arrested, 19 men and one woman have been charged with conspiracy to supply drugs, one man was charged with supplying drugs and one man was charged with possession of a firearm. They appeared before Gateshead magistrates where 11 were remanded in custody.
Sixteen of the arrested people were released on police bail pending further enquiries, including forensic analysis.
Inspector Scott Hall, from the Gateshead South Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This operation was aimed at causing the maximum amount of disruption to the drugs trade in Birtley and beyond. Supplying illegal drugs not only causes harm to the people who use them but also leads to associated crimes which affect whole communities.
“The operation was the culmination of more than 12 months’ work. People were telling us that they are concerned about drugs in their area and we took the necessary steps to address this. It goes to the heart of community policing and our commitment under the Policing Pledge to tackle those areas which people tell us concern them most.
“We’ve already had some positive feedback from people in Birtley, who tell us they’re delighted with the action taken so far.”