TEN people have been charged and drugs with a street value of £8m have been seized in a regional police operation.
Last October officers carried out a series of warrants in the Gateshead area.
The activity was led by North East Regional Special Operations Unit (NERSOU) as part of Operation Valiant, an initiative against organised crime groups in the North-East.
Ten people arrested during the operation have now been charged.
Five men, aged 25, 27, 29, 31, 44, and one woman aged 43, all from the Gateshead area, have been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and money laundering offences.
Three men, aged 31, 37 and 50, from Liverpool, have been charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering offences.
A 41-year-old man from Gateshead has been charged with possession of Class B amphetaminea with intent to supply.
Drugs including cocaine, heroin, and amphetamine, with an approximate street value of £8m were seized by officers along with £110,000 in cash,
It is believed the class A and class B drugs were destined for the communities in the North- East.
All ten will next appear at Gateshead Magistrates Court on February 26.
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