Crack cocaine, heroin and 200 ecstasy tablets, with a street value of �18,000, together with cash were seized at a newsagents in Middlesbrough.

A linked raid at a house in the town saw �22,000 in cash and chemicals used to make designer drugs seized.

Both raids, on Wednesday night, were part of Cleveland Police's ongoing Operation Sabre.

A 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with the second raid and is being questioned by detectives.

Crime hot spots

Operation Sabre, which was launched earlier this year, has so far resulted in more than 100 arrests and tens of thousands of pounds worth of drugs and cash seized.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "Operation Sabre is hitting drug dealers on Teesside hard.

"We know who the dealers are and we will continue this targeted operation on the people who are blighting our communities."

The seized cash will be the subject of a police application to the courts under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Up to 500 officers are involved in Operation Sabre, targeting wanted criminals in crime hot spots across Teesside.

More than 70 arrests were made in the first two days of the operation, which began on 21 April.