ELEVEN people have been arrested in a series of police raids against suspected organised criminal gangs.

ELEVEN people have been arrested in a series of police raids against suspected organised criminal gangs.

Four men and two women from the Peterlee, Shotton Colliery and Wingate areas of east Durham were arrested on Thursday.

And yesterday, a further five men were arrested in Wingate, Horden and Peterlee.

The suspects are aged from their mid-20s to mid-50s.

Durham Police also seized £20,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The arrests were part of Operation Sledgehammer, the force’s drive to tackle organised crime by arresting suspects and seizing criminal assets.

Officers based at Peterlee, working with trading standards officers and Environment Agency officials, also raided two commercial premises as part of the operation.

Ten suspects were held on suspicion of being involved in illegal car dealing activity, including vehicle disposal and suspected “crash for cash” insurance fraud.

An 11th person, a woman in her mid-20s from Wingate, was questioned on suspicion of possessing class A drugs.

Detective Chief Superintendent Jane Spraggon said: “Operation Sledgehammer is about tackling people suspected of being involved in a network of criminal activity.

“This activity could include money laundering, drug-related crime, fraud and importing counterfeit goods.

“The operation is another opportunity to remind the law-abiding public how they can play their part in dismantling criminal networks.

“We’re asking people to report any suspicions.”

She added: “If someone with no obvious source of legitimate income appears to have a lavish lifestyle, let us know and we’ll do the rest.

“Don’t ignore it, report it.”

Five people released on police bail, while the rest are still being questioned.