A SERIES of dawn raids netted eight suspected crack cocaine dealers in Middlesbrough yesterday morning.

The co-ordinated strikes saw 150 Cleveland Police officers deployed to hit the eight targets simultaneously.

The raids, part of Operation Sabre, were the culmination of 12 months of intelligence work and follow the biggest-ever drugs bust in the North-East - which took place in the area in September.

Middlesbrough is at the heart of the North-East crack cocaine problem, with the town acting as a hub supplying the drug across the region.

Last night, Superintendent Steve Swales, district commander for Middlesbrough, said: "The raids went extremely well and we are absolutely delighted by what we have done so far. The feedback on the streets has been positive, once again demonstrating that this is what the community wants."

Homes across the Gresham ward of Middlesbrough were raided, including an address in Essex Street, where The Northern Echo filmed the action.

A large roll of cash and a samurai sword were recovered from the house.

Seven of the eight suspected drug dealers were arrested after police raided their homes. The eighth was out at the time, but he handed himself in to police later in the day. A ninth person was arrested for an unrelated matter.

Small quantities of substances believed to be crack cocaine and heroin were also recovered.

Yesterday, after the raid, one resident in Essex Street who did not want to be named said: "Everybody in Middlesbrough knows this man. It has been hell, people visiting the house at all hours, we never thought we would see this day."

Another said: "We are delighted that this raid has taken place, hopeful we will get some peace now."

In September, 400 officers were involved in the biggest-ever drugs raids in the North-East. About 75 people were arrested.

Supt Swales said: "After that operation, crack cocaine and other drugs, such as heroin, became quite scarce on the streets.

"That lasted for some time and the number of robberies and burglaries decreased because there was less need to steal to get the money to buy the drug.

"This isn't the end, we intend to make the drug dealers' lives a misery."

The raids aim to disrupt the network of drug dealers and reassure the public.