ELEVEN men were arrested on Teesside yesterday as part of an operation to tackle large-scale cannabis production and fraud.

Police officers arrested 11 men in Stockton yesterday, March 4, after a joint policing operation between Stockton Neighbourhood Police Team, NERSOU, the National Crime Agency and others.

The activity aims to disrupt organised criminality linked to large-scale cannabis production and fraud.

The men, aged between 19 and 28, remain in police custody.

The activity, under the banner of Operation Sentinel, will see the communities in Cleveland benefit from this ongoing work.

Chief Superintendent Alastair Simpson, head of NERSOU, said: "This is the first strike day led by our new team and partner agencies.

"Our aim is to understand and disrupt organised crime groups that are often behind the mass production of cannabis in the North-East region and beyond. 

"These networks exploit and prey on vulnerable people doing their bidding while funding their own lifestyles through criminal meals."