Cannabis plants worth almost £500,000 were seized from three sites during a week-long crackdown, police have said.
Cleveland Police carried out raids across the force area targeting organised crime groups, a force spokeswoman said.
Three large cannabis farms were seized and dismantled in Hartlepool.
Two men, both 25, have been charged with production of cannabis while three people were taken in by authorities as victims of modern-day slavery.
The trio were found at a property in Mitchell Street along with a cannabis farm worth £284,000, while crops seized from Stephen Street were valued at about £88,000 and from Cornwall Street worth £116,000, the force said.
