SO-CALLED county lines drugs gangs have caused untold misery to thousands of people in our region.

So it is fantastic to be able to report a series of blows dealt out to these peddlers of death and misery by police forces across the North East.

Officers from Northumbria Police and North Yorkshire Police have been busy with a series of co-ordinated raids that has seen drugs and money confiscated and a number of people arrested who will hopefully be put away for a very long time if they are found guilty.

In reality though, while the police action is to be welcomed, this is a mere skirmish in the war on drugs.

More needs to be done but the police are not the only ones who can help.

The courts need to mete out sentences that act as a deterrent but we can all do our bit.

Information is what really hurts these gangs and helps police and we all have a responsibility to help.

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