MORE than £1.5million worth of cannabis plants, crack cocaine, heroin and amphetamine has gone up in smoke.

The drugs were destroyed after being seized from criminals across Cleveland.

Detective Inspector Steve Kappell, from the community drugs enforcement team, said: “Seizing these drugs has meant that we have been able to stop them getting onto the streets of Cleveland, into the hands of people who could sell them on and potentially cause serious harm.

“I’d like to thank everyone that has come forward in relation to drugs activity in their area.

“Today is a culmination of months of work and it shows that we are being effective and are keeping people safe. Our hard work will continue and I urge people to keep contacting us if they have any suspicions about drugs activity.”

Earlier this year, officers discovered a cannabis farm worth £150,000 at a property in Clarendon Road, Middlesbrough, and another worth around the same amount at a property on Falmouth Street.

A warning was issued to landlords who were encouraged to be vigilant when renting to tenants they do not know. Anyone with information regarding drugs activity in their area is asked to contact Cleveland Police on the non-emergency number 101 or the confidential hotline on 0800 929 702.