Suspected dealers snared with £20,000 of drugs as covert cops follow car from A1 through Tyne Tunnel
Drugs worth £20,000 have been seized from suspected dealers after they were secretly followed on the region’s major roads.
At 12.10pm on Wednesday, March 3, Northumbria Police’s Motor Patrols Department spotted a vehicle believed to be linked to criminality heading northbound on the A1.
In an unmarked car, they followed the Ford Focus through the A19 Tyne Tunnel until stopped in a lay-by.
The officers then swooped in to action, confronting the two men before conducting a search.
They were then taken into custody after they uncovered an estimated £20,000 of Class A drugs stashed in a rucksack.
Two suspects, aged 42 and 31, appeared in court yesterday charged with possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply.
A force spokesperson said: “Cutting off the supply chain is key to keeping drugs off our streets and keeping communities safe.
“Many dealers use the region’s roads networks to transport their goods, but we have eyes everywhere and just because you can’t see a physical police presence, doesn’t mean we’re not watching
“In this case, the car was suspected to have links to organised crime and was on our watch list.
“We are committed to tackling illegal drug supply under the banner of Operation Sentinel, our dedicated initiative to tackling organised crime.
“But we need your support.
"If you know anyone who is involved in organised crime, or the supply of illegal substances, then please let us know so we can keep our communities safe.”
Information can be passed on via the Tell us the Something page of the force’s website or by calling 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.