POLICE have arrested 11 people and seized drugs and cash worth more than £140,000 in a campaign against organised criminals.

Since Operation Boomerang was launched in October in the Consett and Burnhope areas, eight magistrate's warrants have been executed at private and commercial addresses.

In addition to the arrests, two people have voluntarily been questioned and police have returned stolen property to its owners.

The first raid, on a property in Front Street, Burnhope in October, saw a suspected stolen gas meter recovered, which prompted enquiries into the suspected theft of gas.

In November, police found cannabis worth £24,000 and over £10,000 in cash in a car they stopped in Consett.

Both occupants are on police bail pending further enquiries.

The same day officers executed a warrant at Redmire Drive and allotments in Windsor Gardens, Consett.

Two men were arrested after a substantial amount of suspected cocaine worth £16,000, was found. Officers also seized £8,500 cash.

A few days later, police recovered a generator and a wacker plate – a compactor used for paving – at an address in Burnhope Court, Burnhope.

A man was arrested and released with no further action. The equipment was later found to have been stolen.

On November 14 and 16 police stopped vehicles and found suspected cocaine worth up to £28,000 in one and a stolen cement mixer in the other, which has been returned to its owner.

Later in the month, an industrial unit in Blackhill and a house in Shotley Bridge were raided.

Cannabis-growing equipment was found at the unit and one man was arrested. He was bailed pending forensic results.

Police also visited Pleasant View, Bridgehill and Allison Street, Consett where they arrested two men and seized white powder – again, suspected to be cocaine – from the address in Pleasant View.

In early December a man was arrested after police raided a property in Chapel Drive, Delves Lane, after cannabis worth £50,000 and growing equipment were found.

He is currently on police bail

Inspector Keith Wardle, head of Consett’s neighbourhood policing team, said: “We have seen in recent years the demoralising effect that organised crime groups have on our local communities.

“We will continue to target those individuals who are involved in this type of activity."

He added that the operation’s results so far were “very encouraging", and that further planned raids would lead to more arrests.

To report criminal activity call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.