Thirty properties were raided as cocaine, cannabis and ketamine drug dealing rings were shut down across Greater Manchester
A bare-chested suspect is led away during the riads(Image: GMP)
Police arrested 40 people during a week-long crackdown on county lines drug dealing in Greater Manchester. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of cannabis, cocaine and ketamine were also seized during the huge operation, which saw 30 properties in Salford, Oldham and south Manchester raided.
The operation kicked off with a pre-dawn raid on Monday, March 2 when a massive cannabis farm valued at up £1m was discovered at industrial unit on Gardner Street, Pendleton. The grow was spread across multiple rooms and police said the electrcitiy supply had also been tampered with putting neighbouring properties at risk.
Six men aged between 20 and 42, were arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis and abstracting electricity, with five charged and one bailed with conditions.
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Det Sgt Gareth Bannister said: “Cannabis farms of this scale are often linked to wider organised criminal networks. They bring significant risks to local communities, including fire hazards, exploitation, and violence associated with criminal activity.
“Operations like this are a direct result of intelligence from our communities and the hard work of our officers. Cannabis farms are not harmless; they fund organised crime groups who cause real harm in our neighbourhoods. We will continue to pursue those involved and take every opportunity to disrupt their activity.”
Police smash down a door(Image: GMP)
Two days later, police raided a house and a business in Oldham as part of an investigation into a drugs line operating in the area. The suspect ran out of the back door but was arrested by officers who had surrounded the property on suspicion of conspiracy to supply of class A drugs. Drugs and a mobile phone were also seized during searches.
As part of this investigation, a number of warrants were also executed at other addresses in Oldham with several others arrested. Then on Friday, March 6, another drugs line which dealt in ketamine, cocaine and cannabis was closed down after police launched raids out on properties across Northenden and Salford.
Three men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of various drug related offences, and officers recovered a substantial amount of class A and class B drugs as well as phones and cash. Four people were charged in relation to these warrants.
Another suspect is detained(Image: GMP)
Det Insp John Schofield, from GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “Intelligence gathered from the community played a vital role in us being able to conduct this activity, which saw 30 warrants, resulting in 40 arrests and 20 drug lines closed down across Greater Manchester. This week’s action is a powerful example of our commitment to dismantle organised crime in our region.”
Greater Manchester deputy mayor Kate Green said: “County lines activity brings significant harm to our communities. It fuels the supply of dangerous drugs while exploiting children and vulnerable adults who are often groomed, coerced and threatened into criminal activity. That is why tackling this type of organised crime is a key priority for partners across Greater Manchester.”