FIVE people have been arrested in early morning raids in an operation linked to the recovery of 2.3 tonnes of cocaine worth £190m being smuggled into the country.
They were arrested at addresses in Hartlepool as part of a National Crime Agency investigation after the Class A drug was seized from a luxury yacht two weeks ago.
Four men aged between 28 and 57 and one woman aged 53 are being held in custody on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and money laundering.
The arrests and search warrants – which resulted in the recovery of around £30,000 in cash from two addresses - were carried out this morning.
Gavin Heckles, NCA operations manager, said: “The National Crime Agency is working with domestic and international partners to investigate this organised crime group from top to bottom.
“Class A drugs wreck lives and can devastate communities – fighting their importation and distribution through the UK is a priority for us.”
Chief Inspector Rachel Stockdale, of Cleveland Police, said: “Drugs cause misery in our communities and we work with partners to target the organised criminals profiting from this trade.
“We’d encourage anyone concerned about drugs activity to speak to the police, your local information, however small, could be crucial to ongoing investigations.”
A sixth man aged 51 was also arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation.
Parcels of cocaine were found inside black waterproof bags, along with buoyancy aids, Officers removed the drugs and stacked them in blocks, making clear the scale of the operation – with more than two tonnes of cocaine seized.
Today’s strikes were supported by officers from Cleveland Police and the NERSOU (North East Regional Serious Organised Crime Unit) targeting alleged UK drugs couriers of an international organised crime group.
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