HARD drugs have been seized in the second of a series of dawn raids.

Ecstasy and cocaine were among the substances recovered when officers searched 13 homes in the east end of Newcastle, the Lemington area of the city, at Gateshead and on South Tyneside yesterday.

Thirteen people were arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs and are being held for questioning. A juvenile was cautioned for possessing cannabis.

The raids were part of Operation Hard Hit, on Tyneside, which began on Tuesday when Ecstasy and cocaine worth £500,000 were seized in the east end of Newcastle.

Eighteen people were arrested and have made initial appearances before magistrates on charges connected to the supply of hard drugs.

Northumbria Police are planning further stages to the operation against the area's drug dealers.

Superintendent Kelvin Wilson, area commander for Newcastle East, said: "Anyone involved in drug dealing faces a hard hit from Northumbria Police.