Two people have been arrested – as well £3,000 in cash, suspected stolen vehicles and a weapon seized – as part of a continued crackdown on organised crime in Houghton-le-Spring.

Neighbourhood officers covering the village of Easington Lane kickstarted the weekend with a string of afternoon raids at addresses in the area on Friday, March 10.

A warrant was first executed at an address on Store Terrace, where officers recovered £3,000 in cash and items believed to be linked to illegal drug use.

A 31-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man present at the address were arrested on suspicion of concealing criminal property. They have since been released on police bail, pending further enquiries.
And the crackdown on crime did not end there – with officers carrying out two further raids at properties on Brick Garth.

While nobody was present at both addresses upon police arrival, officers were able to recover more drugs paraphernalia from the first property, as well as mobile phones and a machete.

At the second home on the street, a motorcycle and quad bike which were later revealed to be stolen were seized by police, with enquiries ongoing to locate the owners.

Detective Inspector Lee Underwood, of Northumbria Police, has praised officers in the area for continuing to take robust action against suspected criminality in our communities.

He said: “This latest activity is just another example of the continued work being carried out across the Force to tackle illegal drug supply and organised crime.

“Our officers will continue to act on intelligence received, taking a proactive approach to keep our communities free from illicit substances and harm.

“I would like to thank everyone involved last week’s activity, including the public who continue to support us by passing on vital information about suspected criminality in their area.

“No-one wants this type of criminality happening on their doorstep and it often can lead to a range of other issues such as anti-social behaviour and violence – so we would urge the public to remain vigilant and report any concerns to us as soon as possible.

“We will continue to work with our partners to dismantle the criminal groups who try to profit from the sale and supply of illegal drugs, as well as ensuring those affected by drug addiction receive the support they need.”

If you see anyone acting suspiciously in your community, or have any information about local crime, you can report it using the ‘Tell Us Something’ page on our website or by calling 101.

In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always ring 999.