MONEY seized from a drug dealer is being used by police to finance further operations.

Following the conviction of the dealer from Middlesbrough's Grove Hill, a judge at Teesside Crown Court ordered the confiscation of £71,000, found at the home of the man's daughter.

The dealer, who was jailed for five years, was arrested last year as part of Cleveland Police's Dealer-a-Day initiative.

His money was deemed to be profits from selling heroin and cocaine.

Detective Sergeant Paul Templeman, of Middlesbrough Drug Squad, said: "Ironically, criminals are now funding police operations.

"This is a cycle we would like to see continue and grow and we would urge anyone with information about drug dealing activities in their area to contact us."

Cleveland Police is using the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, which allows for forfeiture of seizures of more than £10,000. It is thought to be one of the first cases of its type in the north of England.

Of the recovered money, £2,000 is being used to finance action against a suspected cannabis dealer caught with £25,000 in cash. If an application to the courts is successful, that money could be used to finance more operations.

The force has set up dedicated Financial Investigation Unit to deal with confiscations.