POLICE carried out drugs raids on six pubs at the weekend - and warned they would be back.

Sergeant Paul Higgins, who led the sweep, said: "We are pleased with the success of the operation.

It was a partnership between ourselves and licencees, to tackle the problem of drug misuse .

"It is something we plan to do on a regular basis. All these pubs have been asking us to do this.

Those people who intend to misuse drugs should consider the consequences of what will happen if they are found to be in possession.'' Sgt Higgins led 30 officers - all volunteers - on visits to six pubs in and around Middlesbrough.

The premises were The Gables, at Hemlington, the Lingfield Farm, Coulby Newham, The Viking, Middlesbrough, The Apple Tree, Marton Manor, The Southern Cross, Marton, and The Brunton Arms, Nunthorpe.

Six people were arrested for possession of cocaine, a seventh for having cannabis.

A 21-year-old apprentice plasterer was arrested at Easterside for money laundering, after £800 was found in his pocket.

Two people were arrested for public order offences at two of the pubs. Later, the police sweep team arrested two more people, in Middlesbrough town centre, for public order offences.

The operation was the second in three days to hit drug dealers thought to be making profits of £6,000 a week.

The police tactic was to send undercover police officers acting as spotters into the pubs.

Posing as ordinary drinkers, they would watch for signs of drug dealing and taking - too frequent trips to the toilet, where clandestine deals were done, or a cocaine user giving the game away by continually rubbing an itchy nose.

They would then alert and direct the waiting vans full of police officers who would block all pub entrances and exits and swamp the bar rooms.

Officers were helped in their sweep by the nose of three-anda- half-year old golden Labrador sniffer dog, Dibley, on loan from Durham Police.