THE YEAR THAT SAW ?15M-WORTH OF DRUGS TAKEN OFF THE STREETS

Drugs worth almost ?15million have been removed from the streets of
Sunderland over the last year.

A crackdown on dealers meant a massive increase in the amount of drugs
seized. Less than ?1.2million-worth had been recovered the previous
year.

Raids across Wearside in 2008 raked in nearly 9,000 cannabis plants,
187kgs of amphetamine, 6.84kgs of cocaine, 1.25kgs of heroin and
420kgs of cannabis resin.

Police chiefs hailed the force's operations as a major success in
tackling drugs offences, and the knock-on effect it has had on other
crimes related to illegal substances.

The latest haul was more than a kilo of heroin during the week before
Christmas.

The intelligence-led operation saw 22-year-old Edward Damian James, of
Enderby Road, Millfield, charged with possession with intent to supply
in connection with the discovery.

Over the last year, successful police raids targeted those responsible
for the production and distribution of drugs, which can feed other
crime and disorder.

Sunderland Area Commander Dave Pryer told the Echo he was pleased with
how his teams had made a huge dent in drug dealing in the city.

He said: "It is important to recognise the contribution that drugs
make towards the number of other crimes occurring in local
communities."

"Through our recent Predator operations we have had major successes in
identifying, hunting down and bringing to justice those directly
responsible for crimes such as theft and robbery within the city.

"To complement this work we continue to target those responsible for
the supply and distribution of drugs, individuals whose product can
increase the number of acquisitive crimes occurring in our
neighbourhoods.

"These operations clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of
neighbourhood policing in tackling issues of concern within our city."

He added: "In addition to placing drug dealers before the courts we
can also seize the assets of those convicted so that they don't profit
from the misery they cause.

"Drugs can also have a devastating effect on those taking them and we
will continue to support the work of partner agencies such as local
Drug Action Teams and the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships to
deliver drug advice and information to communities, families and young
people.

"I would urge anyone with information about those supplying or using
drugs in their community to contact us.

"Sunderland is a safe place in which to live and work and I can assure
residents that we will act on any information received to ensure that
it remains this way."

Convictions have included Christian Winter, 40, of St Leonard Street,
Hendon, who in October was jailed for six years for possession of a
kilo of cocaine.

This was followed in November with the sentencing of James Robert
Stubbs, 49, of Windermere Avenue, Houghton for possession of a kilo of
cocaine.

In February the single largest cannabis farm ever recovered by
Northumbria Police was discovered by Sunderland officers during a raid
on a furniture warehouse in Hetton.

The property was found to contain more than 2,000 plants.

About 400 plants, worth ?250,000, were seized when police raided a
house in Chester Road, in September.

In the same month, 627 cannabis plants were discovered at a house in
The Royalty, Millfield.

In November, 2,000 plants and sophisticated lighting equipment at
Harbour Lodge, Bridge Street. Also, ?1million worth of cannabis resin
was found at an address in Hudson Road, Hendon.

And last month, two cannabis farms were unearthed in Burnville Road,
Eden Vale, when emergency services were called out to a fire at a
terraced house.