OFFICERS from the National Crime Squad have seized £35m worth of drugs and almost £2.5m worth of counterfeit currency in raids across the North of England.

The figures are revealed in the squad's second annual report, which shows the North-East to be at the heart of many of its crime fighting operations.

Successes claimed by the NCS in the North-East include the cracking of a major heroin conspiracy operating from Tyne and Wear.

Operation Ambrose led to 21 drugs-related convictions at Newcastle Crown Court in February with some of those involved receiving sentences of up to seven years each.

The report also identifies a trend in the North-East which shows that many criminals are financing the importation and distribution of drugs through bootlegged tobacco and alcohol.

Last month, The Northern Echo revealed that highly organised criminal gangs were selling contraband cigarettes to fund Class A drugs trafficking, which were being sold in pubs and clubs.

The NCS, which was formed in 1998 from the six former regional crime squads, has branches in Tyneside and Hambleton, North Yorkshire, and seconds detectives from local police forces.

It aims to tackle major crime and organised crime from robberies to counterfeit currency production, at home and abroad.

Other results achieved by the squad during April 1999 to March 2000 include the arrest of 12 people believed to be at the "heart of active criminal conspiracies", as well as another 175 alleged to be close to them.

Northern area officers took on 93 operations in the North and charged and prosecuted 267 people.

Nearly £9m of assets acquired by criminals have also been traced and 43 firearms seized.

David Wakenshaw, Assistant Chief Constable for the North of England, a former head of Northumbria CID, said: "Our results during the second year speak for themselves and send out a strong message to those people involved in serious and organised crime. Increasingly, there is no hiding place from detection."

A spokesman for the NCS said the North-East was a "very busy area" for the organisation. It was active in 291 operations across the country, 20 of which were in the North-East