POLICE seized more than £100,000 from suspected drug dealers in morning raids at nine North-East addresses today (Wednesday April 8).

Durham Police carried out “pre-planned strikes” at the homes of people suspected to have been involved in the illegal drug trade.

Eight people were detained in the raids, which spanned the Durham/Northumbria force areas.

All were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences, including conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering.

The two women and six men, aged between 29 and 74, were said to be undergoing questioning later in the day by detectives.

Apart from the seized cash various quantities of what are believed to be controlled drugs were also recovered.

A number of properties in South Hetton, in east Durham, were raided, including addresses in Regents Court, Front Street, Quinn Square, Fallowfield Terrace and Hedley Terrace.

Another property was searched at Lilywhite Terrace, in nearby Easington Lane.

Other homes targeted during the operation were in Monuments Building, at West Sunniside, and Cambridge Road, both in Sunderland, plus Osborne Avenue, in South Shields.

Detective Chief Inspector Victoria Fuller, head of specialist crime operations for Durham Police, said: “Today’s action is a result of a long running, ongoing police investigation which aims to tackle those suspected of being involved in drugs offences.

“We’re determined to dismantle, disrupt and destroy the networks of those involved in drug dealing, which blights our communities.”

The action forms part of Operation Sledgehammer, which was launched in 2010 to combat organised crime in County Durham and Darlington.

Other recent successes under the orbit of Sledgehammer, include the recent recovery of £105,975, suspected to be proceeds from drug dealing, found in the boot of a Ford Focus being driven out of the area by a man from the West Midlands.

The 28-year-old suspect was identified as being part of an organised crime group believed to be operating between the North-East and Midlands.

He was unable to offer a satisfactory explanation for the money, which was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

As the alleged offender failed to appeal against its retention by police within the stipulated four-week time period, the money was formally seized, to be split between the Home Office and the Durham force, for use in the fight against crime and to improve the quality of life for local communities.

Anyone with information about drug-dealing in their area can contact police on the 101 non-emergency number, or call Crimestoppers confidentially, on 0800-555-111.