Operation Artemis: 18 Arrests after Operation Focussing on Serious and Organised Crime
Main article content
A total of 18 arrests were made during Operation Artemis on Tuesday 10th October, focussing on serious and organised crime across the Cleveland area.
Officers from across Cleveland joined forces with partners from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and the National Crime Agency (NCA) as they carried out activity including drugs warrants, roads policing checks and arrest warrants for wanted suspects.
NEROCU officers made seven arrests, five of which were in the Stockton area, in connection with an investigation into the conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Two were outside of the Force area.
Roads policing officers issued seven traffic offence reports for driving whilst using a mobile phone and one for contravening a red light. Three fixed penalties were issued for not wearing a seatbelt.
A driver was summonsed to court and vehicle seized for no insurance, no licence, no tax, no MOT and antisocial driving.
63 speeding offences were detected in the Portrack area and a quad bike was also recovered in the same area.
Three arrests were made on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle in Hartlepool, with two vehicles seized. A further vehicle was recovered which had been abandoned in the Stockton area.
In Hartlepool, a large amount of class B drugs were recovered, believed to be cannabis, after a warrant was carried out on Norfolk Close.
A man was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs after officers spotted an ongoing drug deal.
A warrant was executed in Bowesfield Lane, Stockton, and a man and woman were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A, B and C drugs and possession of criminal property.
A further warrant in the Grove Hill area of Middlesbrough area led to the arrests of a man and woman in connection with drugs offences.
A man was arrested in the Eston area after being wanted in connection with a robbery. He was arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession with intent to supply drugs.
Another was arrested another on suspicion of dangerous dog offences in Grangetown and one in Eston on suspicion of a confiscation order offence.
A 25-year-old man was arrested in the Grangetown area and has since been charged with five thefts and three breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order. He is due to attend Teesside Magistrates Court today, Wednesday 11th October.
Cleveland Police’s Head of Crime, Detective Chief Superintendent John Bent, said: “Operation Artemis is just a snapshot of the work that is carried out day in and day out by our officers across Cleveland in order to target serious and organised criminals in our area.
“Tackling serious and organised crime is a priority for us and those involved will face the full force of the law.
“The action taken yesterday will continue, along with our partners, so that we can bring offenders to justice, protect victims and show our communities that serious and organised crime won’t be tolerated in Cleveland.”
NEROCU Detective Chief Inspector Daryll Tomlinson, said: “Those involved in serious and organised crime bring violence and disorder to communities and their illegal profits can be used to fund the likes of human trafficking, child exploitation, firearm importation and modern day slavery. However, dedicated operations like this help dismantle and disrupt those looking to profit from these illicit activities.
“This day of action certainly isn’t where our work ends, operations like this happen year-round and police forces and partners in our region remain dedicated under Operation Sentinel to tackling all forms of serious and organised crime in order to safeguard the vulnerable, protect victims and communities and bring justice to those exploiting others and committing crime.”