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Newcastle bar drug dealers 'given celebrity-like status' | Newcastle bar drug dealers 'given celebrity-like status' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Drug dealers "moved freely" through three city centre bars and were given "almost celebrity-like status", a police report has claimed. | Drug dealers "moved freely" through three city centre bars and were given "almost celebrity-like status", a police report has claimed. |
Northumbria Police carried out an undercover investigation after reports of drug dealing at House of Smith, Florita's and Madame Koo in Newcastle. | Northumbria Police carried out an undercover investigation after reports of drug dealing at House of Smith, Florita's and Madame Koo in Newcastle. |
All were handed closure notices in December, and the council's licensing sub-committee has now held a hearing. | |
Members decided to suspend the premises' licences for one month. | |
The bars' owner, Apartment Group, can appeal against the decision. | |
A report was sent to the city council ahead of the licensing sub-committee hearing. | |
It included statements from undercover officers who said they had interacted with staff in the three venues and were sold class A drugs. | |
One officer described how drug dealers "hugged and greeted" door staff, promoters and bar staff, and were able to by-pass the paying queue and access the VIP area without being searched. | One officer described how drug dealers "hugged and greeted" door staff, promoters and bar staff, and were able to by-pass the paying queue and access the VIP area without being searched. |
Once inside, they "moved freely" through the premises and were given an "almost celebrity-like" status, the report said. | |
As part of the investigation into the supply of class A drugs at bars and nightclubs in Newcastle £17,000 in cash and cocaine with a street value of £14,000 was seized. | As part of the investigation into the supply of class A drugs at bars and nightclubs in Newcastle £17,000 in cash and cocaine with a street value of £14,000 was seized. |