A FORMER Newcastle United soccer star has been arrested as part of a £500,000 drugs swoop.
David Roche, 31, appeared before the city's magistrates yesterday charged with conspiracy to supply drugs.
The former midfielder was one of 19 people arrested in a series of dawn raids in the Walker area of the city on Tuesday.
Roche played 36 times for the Magpies in the early 1990s after being brought into the first team by then manager Ossie Ardilles.
He was tipped for big future but was sold to lowly Doncaster Rovers when Kevin Keegan took over as boss.
Police seized cocaine and Ecstasy tablets with a street value of half-a- million pound from 16 houses during operation "Hard Hit".
More than 100 police officers were involved in the raids which recovered 100,000 Ecstasy tablets with a street value of £450,000 and 750g of cocaine worth £30,000.
A small amount of amphetamine and five high value cars, suspected to be the assets of the crime, were also seized.
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