Detectives say a major drug ring ring in the North-East has been taken down in one of the region's biggest police operations.

More than 400 officers were involved in raids at 19 properties in the region after a 14-month-long undercover investigation, which has so far recovered cocaine and ecstasy tablets with a street value of at least £150,000.

As well as securing criminal convictions for the 13 people arrested in the raids, officers plan to ensure they are stripped of assets paid for with drugs money, which are expected to be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Full story: see tomorrow's Northern Echo.