ARRESTS AS AS SOUTH TYNESIDE HOMES TARGETED

FOUR people have been arrested and thousands of pounds worth of drugs have been seized after police targeted one North East borough.

- By NICOLE GOODWIN

Police carried out early morning raids at two South Tyneside properties on Monday as part of Operation Impact.

Community intelligence into suspected drug dealing led officers and partner agencies to the homes on South Frederick Street and Devonshire Street in South Shields.

At the first property, officers arrested a 48-year-old man on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug after discovering a quantity of white tablets.

At the second property, a 31-year-old man was arrested in connection with suspected drug supply. Once inside, they recovered £3,500 in cash, some of which was hidden under a sofa, two balls of white powder - believed to be cocaine with a value of around £10,000, mobile phones and other drug-related paraphernalia.

Elsewhere, officers from the Force’s Op Dragoon seized six bikes being ridden antisocially and a further three vehicles, whilst a Camera Enforcement Unit captured 171 speed offences and nine seat-belt offences.