11 arrested in dawn raid; Police target suspected drug dealers.

Byline: Sophie Doughty

SUSPECTED drug dealers have been taken off the streets in early morning raids.

And police seized more than pounds 150,000 worth of illegal substances when they swooped on 11 homes, yesterday morning.

In one of the biggest operations of its kind ever staged by Northumbria Police 130 officers raided properties in Birtley, Gateshead, and Washington.

Individuals suspected of being involved in the supply of Class A drugs were targeted in the initiative, code-named Operation Hornet.

A convoy of 22 marked police vehicles moved into Birtley around 7am, yesterday. And officers simultaneously smashed their way into 10 homes in the town, leading occupants out in handcuffs.

The operation then moved on to Lomond Close in Washington where a large house was searched and cars including a black BMW M3 and Nissan Micra were seized by police.

The search also included a top-of-therange BMW that was parked outside the house behind decorative wrought iron gates.

Eight men and two women were arrested in Birtley, while one man was arrested in Washington.

The suspects were questioned while their homes were searched.

And police seized 2kg of cocaine with a street value of around pounds 100,000, 60 kilos of cannabis worth around pounds 40,000 and 1kg of amphetamines, with a street value of pounds 10,000. Yesterday's raids came as a result of an investigation lasting many months, sparked by tip-offs from members of the of the public And Gateshead area commander Chief Supt Graham Davis said the operation was a huge success.

"Yesterday's arrest phase of the operation came as a result of more than six months of intelligence gathering, and has been huge success.

"We got everyone we set out to get," he said. "What we did is go to the core of neighbourhood policing, the community have been informing us of the problems of supply of drugs in the Birtley area.

"We have listened to what they've said, and undertaken an investigation for a protracted period of time to discover what has been going on.

"We have got good contacts with the public and they are more than ready to tell us these things." The raids were carefully planned to ensure the suspects had no chance of escape.

Supt Davis added: "It has been a very successful, very carefully planned and executed operation.

"These people are heavily involved in organised crime and will do anything they can to avoid capture, so we have got to be one step ahead.

"As far as we know they're heavily involved in the supply of controlled drugs and the fact that we have recovered 1kg of cocaine suggests they are heavily involved in organised crime, and that impacts on the community at every level."

Crime Superintendent for Gateshead Dennis Shotton is now urging the public to report anybody they suspect of supplying drugs in their community. "Drug abuse causes harm to the people who use them and can lead to associated crimes that affect our communities," he said.

"As part of the Policing Pledge we have listened to the communities' concerns around the supply of drugs in the area and have taken action.

"The supply of illegal drugs is a menace to our communities that we are determined to tackle whenever it occurs." "Information from the public is a valuable tool for police and we would urge people to be alert and report suspicious activity to their neighbourhood policing team."

Anyone with any information about drug-dealing should call on 0345 604-3043.

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130 officers raided properties in , Gateshead, and Washington in Operation Hornet