A police dog helped uncover a hidden mobile phone during a fraud investigation that led to two arrests.
Police Dog Mila found the device during early morning strike day warrants carried out on Tuesday at four addresses across Chester-le-Street, Morpeth, and Hartlepool.
Two men, aged 59 and 54, were arrested on suspicion of fraud.
The operation was led by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and supported by Northumbria Police and Cleveland Police.
Along with the mobile phone, officers seized several high-value watches, multiple digital devices, and a large quantity of financial documents.
Detective Sergeant Andrea Smith, from NEROCU's Regional Economic Crime Unit, said: "This police activity shows we are not slowing down in our efforts to disrupt and dismantle the fraud operations harming the public.
"I want to thank everyone working on this investigation, their hard work has secured arrests today and hopefully we see success at court down-the-line.
"Work just like today will continue under the banner of Operation Sentinel – our regional approach to disrupting and tackling all forms of Serious and Organised Crime here impacting the North East."
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The arrests are part of ongoing efforts to disrupt organised fraud across the North East.
Police have issued advice to help people stay safe from investment scams, including researching platforms, avoiding rushed offers and cold calls, and only investing what you can afford to lose.
They urge the public to remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Anyone with information about criminal activity can contact police or report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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