A 14-YEAR-OLD boy who had been missing for more than three weeks was reunited with his family last night after being discovered by police during drugs raids.

Dozens of officers carried out a series of raids across Stockton on Thursday morning as they continue to target street-level drug dealers.

During the raids, a teenage boy, who has been missing from the region since August 21, was found inside a house in Dovecot Street, and officers believed he may have been exploited by the criminal gang.

Fifteen people were arrested as part of the operation, which saw raids take place at 15 addresses. A quantity of suspected heroin, crack-cocaine, cannabis, cash, mobile phones and drugs paraphernalia were seized from addresses across Stockton and Redcar.

A machete, axe, claw hammer and a homemade weapon were also taken away during the operation.