Police uncover a suspected drug smuggling plot following a criminal damage report in Hebburn
A routine arrest in South Tyneside has uncovered a suspected drug smuggling plot.
On Saturday, November 15, Northumbria Police received a report of criminal damage in Hebburn, with a 35-year-old man being quickly identified as a suspect.
Working on intelligence, police tracked the suspect to a hotel in South Shields later that evening.
When the Neighbourhood Support Team (NST) entered the room, they uncovered a haul of suspected illicit substances, including an estimated £3,000 of cocaine, £500 of Pregabalin tablets, and an amount of cannabis resin.
Officers also discovered a number of drones and two crisp packets containing quantities of drugs and mini mobile phones, which were attached to plans to fly them into prison.
As a result of the discoveries, the man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply - he has been released on bail as inquiries continue.
Speaking after the arrest, Neighbourhood Policing Inspector David Heron, of Northumbria Police, said: “This was a fantastic arrest and shows just what we can achieve when we pursue suspects and trust our instincts to dig a little deeper.
“The team were attending to carry out what they thought was a fairly standard arrest, however what they uncovered was a haul of suspected illegal substances – and a potential plot to smuggle drugs into our prisons.
“There is always activity going on in South Tyneside to disrupt serious and organised crime – and this arrest just demonstrates our daily commitment to this.
“Whether it’s a planned day of action, like Operation Impact, or simply responding to incidents as and when they occur, we will continue to be visible in our communities and ensure we are here when the public need us the most.
“If you are aware of any criminal activity in your local area, we want to know about it.”
If you’re concerned about any criminality in your area, you can send Northumbria Police a direct message on social media or use the report forms or live chat function on the Force’s website.
If you can’t contact Northumbria Police via the above methods, call 101 or in the event of an emergency, call 999.