TWO men who were arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs following a raid at a North-East business have been released on bail.

The raid was carried out by police and Trading Standards officers at The New Age shop, in Keartons Yard, Darlington, yesterday (Wednesday, May 13).

Officers acting on intelligence swooped on the shop after legal highs being sold at the business were found to contain controlled drugs, including methylphenidate – a Class B drug.

A 21-year-old man, from Darlington, was arrested at the shop, while the 21-year-old owner of the business was arrested at his home, near Bedale, North Yorkshire.

They have both been released on bail.

A 46-year-old woman from Carthorpe, near Bedale, was also arrested and charged with assaulting a police constable and resisting arrest.

She will appear before magistrates in Northallerton next month. 

Speaking after the raid, Inspector Caroline Dawson, who led the operation, said a number of teenagers in Darlington had recently become violently ill after taking legal highs and warned against their use.

“I have seen first-hand children who have really suffered the after-effects of these legal highs,” she said.

“They became very spaced out and were very unwell. Some required immediate hospital treatment.

“We do not know exactly what is in them, and we do not know the long-term damage that these things can do.

“Do not take them - there are much better ways to have fun with your friends.

“I would advise people to be strong and set and example to your friendship group.”

The Director of Public Health, who helped to fund the testing, said: “Overall drug use is falling across England, but there are significant concerns about the use of some newer substances being referred to ‘Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) - legal highs - the harms of which are less well known than other drugs.

“These substances are not approved for human consumption and as the manufacture of these substances is unregulated there is no way of knowing that what is on the label is actually what is in the packet and no one can be sure of their strength or their effects.

“There has been evidence of contamination by range of different substances including drugs that are banned or illegal. People should not assume that because you can buy something in a shop on the high street or online it is safe or legal.

“The individuals taking these drugs don’t know what they are taking, and we would urge people to avoid them.”

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