FIVE men have appeared in court to admit their part in a conspiracy to supply drugs including cocaine and ecstasy.

The men were arrested in June following a series of raids at addresses across Darlington in what was one of the biggest police operations mounted by Durham Constabulary.

Operation Karaman netted drugs with a street value of more than £150,000 with several vehicles and various sums of money also being seized.

At Teesside Crown Court yesterday, Alister Douglas, 32, of Duke Street, Roger Bowers, 26, of Kexwith Moor Close, Paul Wilson, 25, of Willow Road, and Matthew Pybus, 26, of Oxford Street, all Darlington addresses, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A controlled drugs between March 25 last year and June 9 this year.

Shaun Robson, 30, of Inglewood Road, Darlington, admitted two charges of conspiracy to supply Class A controlled drugs, the second count relating to the period between May 24 last year and June 9 this year.

Robson also pleaded guilty to a related charge of a selling or transferring a shotgun to a person without a registered firearms licence.

Shaun Morris, prosecuting, said the Crown would be seeking confiscation hearings in some instances under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Five more people arrested by police deny conspiracy to supply drugs. They are Anthony Hall, 39, of Marina Road, Mark Starkey, 32, of Ivy House, John Nicholson, 37, of Estoril Road South, Darren Paul Sheen, 25, of Haughton Road, all of Darlington, and Clare Neary, 25, whose address was not given.

Mark Starkey, John Nicholson and Claire Neary were granted bail with the others remanded in custody.

The case will be heard again on October 8.