A CRACKDOWN on drug dealers using the help of a force's first passive sniffer dog has already resulted in the arrest of two people.

On Saturday night, two men were arrested in Chester-le-Street on suspicion of possession of drugs as they queued outside Crocodillos nightclub, in Front Street.

The men were aged in their early twenties, one from the local area and the other from Bulgaria. They were found to have Ecstasy on them and were given a caution.

The drugs were detected using the help of Jake, a passive sniffer dog being used by the Durham and Chester-le-Street police division. He has been brought in as part of a police operation involving about a dozen officers, to crack down on drug dealers and users.

Jake has been trained to sit down in front of people when he smells drugs on them.

Inspector Dave Marshall: "We have demonstrated once again that we will not tolerate drugs in Chester-le-Street.

"Anyone who brings drugs into the town will be arrested. We're working very closely with the district council and the town's licensees and their door staff to achieve this.

"Similar action will be repeated at a further date."