Dozens of drug dealers jailed

Twenty-six drug dealers have been jailed for more than 60 years after a huge anti-drugs operation in Heywood.

Adeel Mansoor (born 16/12/88) of Height's Lane in Rochdale was today, Tuesday 29 July 2008, sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 12 months and 150 hours unpaid work at Bolton Crown Court.

He is the final offender to be jailed after all 26 pleaded guilty to drugs offences.

Operation Bluebeard was launched in June 2007 and saw officers clamping down on class A drug dealers in the area.

Police gathered intelligence from a range of sources to target those selling heroin and crack cocaine, and £4,000 of drugs were seized during the course of the operation.

Officers used surveillance techniques and other covert methods to gather information about the drug dealing, as well as openly policing the areas of Heywood where the dealers were operating.

In November 2007 dawn raids were carried out on 20 addresses in the area.

Officers seized 100 mobile phones during the raids, and 26 people were arrested and subsequently charged.

Detective Sergeant Jed Sudworth from Rochdale CID said: "Today marks the culmination of more than a year's work to remove those people from our communities who continue to spread drugs and exploit addicts.

"I am really pleased with today's result, and hope it sends a clear message not only to other offenders but to the local community too that we will continue to work hard to reduce drug dealing and the massively detrimental affect it has on people.

"We will keep trying to seize any assets that these offenders got from selling drugs, and will be making applications under the Proceeds of Crime Act after today. We are determined that these people don't benefit any more from their criminality, and other people's misery."

Anyone who has any information about drug dealing in their area is encouraged to come forward and speak to police.

People can report concerns to police on 0161 872 5050 or through Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.