EIGHTEEN people have been charged with conspiracy to supply drugs, following a huge police investigation in York and North Yorkshire.

Police say they seized more than £200,000 of drugs and a large amount of cash, during a six-month investigation into two separate drugs conspiracies in the York and Wetherby areas.

All 18, most of whom are from York, will appear before court this week, beginning today.

The charges follow a long-running investigation by officers targeting a group of people suspected of supplying Class A and B substances, thought to be predominately cocaine and cannabis.

Three men from Harrogate, aged 27, 28 and 29 are due to appear at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday along with two men from Bradford aged 34 and 39. They are charged in connection with the Wetherby conspiracy.

On Friday, ten men and two women from York are due to appear at York Magistrates’ Court charged with various offences relating to the York conspiracy. Most of the York defendants are from the Pottery Lane area in Heworth.

Two men aged 25 and 33 are charged with conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs; five men aged 22, 35, 42, 30 and 32 face charges of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs; and a 31-year-old man is charged with conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and production of Class B drugs.

A 43-year-old man faces charges of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and money laundering; a 57-year-old man is charged with production of Class B drugs and two 23-year-old women face charges of money laundering.

A 28-year-old man from York, linked to both conspiracies, will appear before York Magistrates on Wednesday and Saturday, charged with conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and money laundering.

Three other men from York, aged 20, 30 and 52, have been arrested and remain on police bail as the investigation continues.