A SERIES of high-profile drug and cash seizures is helping drive down crime in a North-East city, according to police.
Over recent weeks thousands of pounds worth of drugs have been taken off the streets of Newcastle - largely as a result of information being passed to Northumbria Police by members of the community.
In the latest seizure at the weekend, traffic officers stopped a car being driven by a 36-year-old man travelling on the central motorway.
Inside the car they found what is believed to be a kilo of cocaine. A subsequent search of his house revealed a further two kilos of amphetamine - in all the drugs are estimated to be worth around £50,000.
Shortly afterwards, in an unconnected incident, police stopped a man found to be in possession of 31 wraps of cocaine. A house search revealed a further kilo of the drug, while another 60 wraps were found in a safe in the house.
And acting on community intelligence officers executed a search warrant at a house in Hawksley, Westerhope, and arrested three people on suspicion of money laundering after more than £135,000 was found in a wardrobe. Further arrests in connection with this are expected soon.
The weekend's haul follows a number of large seizures by Crime Operations, part of the force's Crime Department, including the force's largest ever recovery of class A drugs - when heroin, cocaine, cannabis and amphetamine was found at a house in Cheshire.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article