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| Properties searched in drugs raid | Properties searched in drugs raid |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of police officers have raided properties across Teesside in a major operation against suspected crack cocaine dealers. | Hundreds of police officers have raided properties across Teesside in a major operation against suspected crack cocaine dealers. |
| About 300 officers were involved in the raids from the early hours. | |
| Cleveland Police said the action came in response to the area being seen as a hub for the crack cocaine network in the north-east of England. | Cleveland Police said the action came in response to the area being seen as a hub for the crack cocaine network in the north-east of England. |
| Police said a number of properties were targeted and 21 people arrested so far in the ongoing operation. | |
| 'A clear message' | |
| They said a quantity of suspected drugs was found in one house, which will now be tested in a mobile forensic laboratory, and ammunition was found in another house. | |
| Officers were joined by forensic experts and staff from other partner agencies for the operation. | Officers were joined by forensic experts and staff from other partner agencies for the operation. |
| Cleveland Police Chief Constable Sean Price said: "We have known for a couple of months now from intelligence coming in that there was a growing concern that Middlesbrough was becoming a hub for crack cocaine." | Cleveland Police Chief Constable Sean Price said: "We have known for a couple of months now from intelligence coming in that there was a growing concern that Middlesbrough was becoming a hub for crack cocaine." |
| He said the operation was about sending out a clear message to communities and drug dealers that action is being taken. | He said the operation was about sending out a clear message to communities and drug dealers that action is being taken. |