Eight people were arrested during a series of dawn raids to tackle drug dealing today.
More than 100 officers with dog teams took part in the operation, which followed months of undercover work by Durham Police.
How do you rate our coverage of news? Sign up to our Reader Panel to shape the way we bring you sports news in print and onlineProperties were targeted in Nesbit Road, Furness Close and Grisedale Road, Peterlee; Macbeth Walk and Eleventh Street, Horden; Hopper Terrace, Shotton and Barnard Avenue, Ludworth.
The men arrested, aged between 19 and 38, were taken to Peterlee police station for questioning today.
Chief Inspector Elaine Taylor said: "Today, we targeted people who are suspected drug dealers supplying heroin, cocaine and other drugs.
"Their removal from the streets is a consequence of months of careful evidence gathering."
The raids will be followed up tonight to ensure the arrests catch the attention of town centre crowds.
Four held after drug raid.A floodlit projector will beam the results of the raids and messages of reassurance to the community on to the side of Lee House, a four-storey town centre building.
Community leaders were also invited to watch the raids in Peterlee and surrounding areas this morning by police.
Chf Insp Taylor added: "The operation is part of the national Operation Nimrod neighbourhood campaign, a week-long initiative to combat drug and other crime.
Police put up a poster after the raids.
"Drug dealing and the antisocial behaviour and crime that follows in its wake is a major issue in communities.
"We have consulted with our partner agencies and they said it was a problem and today's raids are a direct result of the concerns they raised.
"The message we sent out today is very simple – drug dealing is not acceptable and will not be tolerated anywhere in our force area."
Similar operations to today's will take place over the coming months, and police say they know who is dealing drugs and they will be arrested.
