A HAUL of illegal weapons has been recovered during a police swoop on a group of holidaymakers at Newcastle Airport.
Four men, all with warrants outstanding for their arrest, were flying back from a trip to Amsterdam yesterday.
But as the plane touched down, officers – acting on intelligence – arrested four men, all in their 20s, from South Shields.
During a search of their luggage, extendable batons and knuckledusters were found in two cases.
It is thought the batons are of a type which can't be bought legally here.
A spokesman for South Shields Police said: "The batons are given legally to police officers for their own protection, so they are a very effective instrument.
Dangerous
"We have been specially trained in its use, so in the wrong hands, they can be extremely dangerous."
Warrants had been issued for the arrest of the four men – three who come from the East Shields area.
One was wanted for possession of a controlled substance, two were suspected of causing criminal damage, and the fourth had an outstanding court warrant for his arrest.
The police spokesman added: "There is no hiding place for those who commit offences.
"If they think by going on holiday they won't be caught, they can think again because they will.
"If we have to, we will stop them at the airport."
The operation was part of the Safer South Tyneside Initiative, a project between Northumbria Police, South Tyneside Council and other partners.
It is aimed at reducing crime and the fear of crime to make South Tyneside a safer place to live and work.
Source: South Tyneside Today
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