Seven arrested in operation targeting Serious and Organised Crime

Ten warrants have been executed as part of a complex operation to disrupt and dismantle organised drug crime.

Yesterday officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) support detectives from Cleveland Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA) and executed ten warrants at addresses in Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar as well as one in Durham and one in Greater Manchester.

The warrants resulted in the arrests of five men and two woman on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering.

As well as raiding their homes, detectives searched a container in Westerby Road in the Middlesbrough area, believed to be linked to a member of the organised crime network.

The activity formed part of a long running investigation – codenamed Operation Apex –into the large-scale supply of controlled drugs being run by an organised crime group based in Teesside with links to the Durham and Greater Manchester areas.

Detective Chief Superintendent Anne-Marie Salwey, Cleveland Police’s Head of Crime, said: “This morning’s strike focused on a singular organised crime group believed to be supplying cocaine throughout Teesside, as well as in Durham and the North-West.

“The results stem from months of hard work driven and proactive investigation into the drugs network operating from Teesside.

“This reflects our continued commitment to our communities that we will relentlessly pursue any individual who we believe are profiting from the sale of drugs, exploiting vulnerable people including children, and partaking in serious violence along the way.”

The operation occurred during Cleveland Police’s Operation Artemis and is one part of the day of action. Officers from across the force have been focusing on disrupting serious and organised crime in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland, working with local partners to safeguard and protect our communities from harm.