Drug arrests 'linked to child exploitation'

Police said eight people were arrested in early morning raids

Eight people have been arrested for suspected drug dealing linked to alleged child exploitation, police have said.

Those arrested - six men and two women - were held on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine following early morning raids across Teesside, as part of an investigation into an organised crime network.

Officers believe children were criminally exploited to work for the network either by suppling, storing or dealing with the drug on their behalf, Cleveland Police said.

All have been taken into custody for questioning.

A search of all the properties led to cash and electronic devices being recovered.

PC Lee Swainston, from Stockton's neighbourhood policing team, said the arrests "stem months of proactively gathering information".