POLICE have arrested more than 70 suspected street drug dealers.

Heroin, cocaine and cannibas worth thousands of pounds were seized during swoops on houses in Newcastle, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Northumberland, as well as large quantities of stolen goods.

Northumbria Chief Constable Mike Craik, who took up his appointment at the beginning of the month with a promise to get tough on criminals, spoke of the successes, in a series of operations over the past three weeks.

Those arrested were targeted specifically as suspected of being involved in persistent, street-level dealing in heroin and other associated offences.

Mr Craik said: "We are striking at the heart of criminal activity in our region.

"These operations targeted the supply of heroin and cocaine, drugs which not only affect the people who use them, but which also have the biggest impact on the quality of life in local neighbourhoods.

"These are people who we believe consistently and persistently break the law without any concept that one day they may have to pay for their crimes. Those people should take note: that day has come."

He added: "This is only the beginning. These arrests will hopefully have made a major impact on class A drug dealing.

"We then intend to move on to that other big thorn in the side of local communities - the violence and disorder on our streets caused by drunkenness."

The arrests were the result of information supplied to police by the public.