AN OPERATION to crack down on gangs and modern slavery has been carried out by detectives working across the North-East.

More than 100 foreign-registered vehicles were stopped by Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit (CDSOU) and specialist investigators based at Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) and Teesport during Operation Trivium.

The detectives were also supported by HM Revenue and Customs operatives last week as part of the operation targeting foreign-owned vehicles on English, Scottish and Welsh roads.

Around 140 foreign nationals were spoken to by officers involved, with 120 foreign-registered lorries, vans and cars stopped at DTVA, Teesport, the A1(M) and A19.

Chief Insp Graham Milne said: “On the whole, UK company drivers were complimentary about the operation, it must be said that many of the drivers of foreign-registered vehicles also had no issues with being stopped.

“They were more than willing to interact with police to show their own professionalism and compliance with legislation.

“Nationally, more than 3,500 foreign-registered vehicles were checked and from our perspective, the CDSOU teams have identified areas where we need to strengthen our knowledge and skills to meet the demands of dealing with foreign-registered vehicles on our road networks.”

Those investigated under the operation were pulled into designated checkpoints where officials scanned vehicles and used sniffer dogs to search for anything suspicious.

Passengers and luggage at DTVA were also checked with officers from Cleveland Police’s Vulnerable, Exploited, Missing and Trafficked department searching for evidence of slavery.