The seven people arrested during a series of early morning raids targeting suspected members of an organised drugs gang have been released on bail.

Cleveland Police executed ten warrants as they continue to tackle to problem of Class A drugs reaching the streets of the force area.

The co-ordinated raids hit addresses in Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar, while simultaneously raids were carried out in Durham and Greater Manchester force area.

Cash, drugs and weapons were seized during the searches of the properties across the Teesside area.

Detectives also searched a container in Westerby Road in Middlesbrough, believed to be linked to the crime network.

As a result of the raids, seven people have been arrested in total this morning; men aged 39 and 25, and a 29-year-old woman from Redcar, a 32-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman from Middlesbrough, a 36-year-old man from Thornaby and a 42-year-old man from Manchester.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Click here

The Northern Echo:

All were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and money laundering offences.

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.

The force was supported by various officers and staff from across the force alongside the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and the National Crime Agency (NCA).

A Cleveland Police spokesperson confirmed that all seven people arrested had been released on conditional bail while investigations continue.