MORE than £90,000 worth of drugs and cash were seized to tackle cross-border drug dealing.
Northumbria Police and other UK organisations tackled the practice known as 'county lines' in an 'intensification period' from February 27 to March 5.
County lines describes gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas, using dedicated mobile phone lines or another form of 'deal line'.
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Officers made a total of 105 arrests during the week, with more than £33,580 of cannabis, £20,400 worth of MDMA and £1,300 worth of amphetamine uncovered.
More than £7,500 in cocaine was seized, plus an additional £40,000 worth of the Class A drug when assisting Durham Constabulary.
A total of £36,815 in cash was seized across the force area, as were several weapons including two knuckle dusters and a BB gun which 'resembled a Glock 17 firearm'.
Seven vehicles were uplifted by officers plus mobile phones believed to be linked to county lines activity.
Teams helped educate local secondary school children about how they can be exploited as part of county lines criminality, and engaged with taxi drivers working as part of the night-time economy to increase awareness around child sexual exploitation.
Assistant chief constable Alastair Simpson, of Northumbria Police, said: “This type of criminality is something we will simply not accept in our communities.
“Our officers are becoming more and more aware of how to spot this type of activity. Offenders should make no mistake that we will root out your operation and bring you to justice."
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