Police arrested 29 people and seized drugs worth an estimated £1 million across Teesside during the latest phase of Operation Artemis.
Cleveland Police carried out simultaneous warrants, arrest attempts and raids across Stockton on Wednesday, October 21, targeting drugs, violence and theft.
The operation began early in the morning, when officers from across Cleveland Police gathered for a briefing led by Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hall and Stockton District Commander Superintendent Al O'Donoghue.
Operation Artemis briefing, October 21 (Image: Cleveland Police)
Teams then deployed across the area, executing simultaneous warrants and carrying out arrest attempts throughout the day.
Special Constables continued the operation into the night, bringing the total arrested to 29 for alleged drugs, violence and theft offences.
Officers recovered a significant quantity of Class A drugs and cash.
(Image: Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland)
One of the largest seizures came from a property on New Road in Billingham, where Class A drugs with an estimated street value of £1 million were recovered.
Three males, aged 17, 49 and 50, and a 52-year-old woman were arrested in connection with the Billingham raid.
Two of the men have since been charged with supplying a Class A drug.
(Image: Freya Cain-Metcalf)
On Ware Street, officers seized suspected cocaine with an estimated value of around £10,000, along with scales and other drugs paraphernalia.
Two men, aged 24 and 32, were arrested and taken into custody.
Man arrested on Ware Street during Operation Artemis (Image: Freya Cain-Metcalf)
Man arrested on Ware Street during Operation Artemis in Stockton (Image: Freya Cain-Metcalf)
Operation Artemis was also supported by Stockton Council and housing providers, which carried out targeted raids across town.
A property on Smith Street, which police said had been at the centre of antisocial behaviour, alleged drug dealing and disorder, was issued a closure order for three months.
Alongside the arrests, officers also visited schools and other public areas to speak to members of the public about crime and antisocial behaviour.
PCC Matt Storey joins officers on Operation Artemis (Image: Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland)
Operation Artemis highlights highly visible, targeted police work across the Cleveland Police area, with the latest phase focused on Stockton.
Earlier phases of Operation Artemis targeted areas including Redcar and Middlesbrough, involving more than 130 officers and 20 arrests.
The raids followed months of intelligence-gathering, including information from residents worried about crime and anti-social behaviour.
Operation Artemis (Image: Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland)
Superintendent Al O'Donoghue said: “Yesterday’s activity saw 29 people arrested and a significant amount of illicit drugs taken off our streets. I’d like to thank the public and our partners for their support in another successful Operation Artemis.
“Operation Artemis is an opportunity to showcase some of the work ongoing every day to tackle those causing the most harm in our communities and keep people safe. I hope these latest results reassure the community we can and will take action.”
(Image: Freya Cain-Metcalf)
Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s cabinet member, said: “We work hard alongside Cleveland Police to make the borough safer for residents, visitors and businesses, focusing on priorities raised by our communities.
“Projects such as Operation Artemis, which tackles serious and organised crime across the Cleveland Police area, and Operation Shield, a multi-agency operation tackling antisocial behaviour and improving safety in Stockton town centre, see our teams working together, listening to people and taking action."
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Cllr Stephenson added: “From children’s services safeguarding young people to our CCTV operators, community safety, licensing, trading standards and environmental health teams, we support police officers every day of the year.
“We want Stockton-on-Tees to be a place where people feel happy and safe to live, work and visit and we will keep striving to do that.”
Anyone concerned about crime in their community should contact Cleveland Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.