More charges following drugs raids

Officers break down a door during the drug raids.

Ten more men have been charged following the second day of an operation to target class A drug dealers in Rochdale.

Warrants were executed at 30 addresses in the Milkstone and Deeplish areas on Wednesday (13 May) and Thursday.

Ten men were charged out of the 12 people arrested on the second day of the operation, bringing the total number arrested to 26, of which 17 have been charged, across the two days.

The men, who were all charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs, are:

Farooq Khondaker (born 02/12/1988) of King Street South, Rochdale.

Kenneth Hurn (born 08/08/1979) of no fixed abode.

Steven Connelly (born 03/01/1971) of Montgomery, Rochdale.

Hameed Akhtar (born 06/11/1969) of Clement Royds Street, Rochdale.

Saqib Hussain (born 30/04/1983) of Henry Street, Rochdale.

Faisal Hussain (born 25/10/1986) of Henry Street, Rochdale.

Usman Shafique (born 19/03/1989) of Henry Street, Rochdale.

Jason Gregory (born 15/12/1981) of Thetford, Rochdale.

Gary Whitworth (born 25/08/1961) of Dunstable, Lower Falinge, Rochdale.

Stephen Kenny (born 23/05/1973) of no fixed abode.

All were due to appear at Rochdale Magistrates' Court today (Friday 15 May).

A 45-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of drugs offences yesterday was bailed pending further inquiries and a 36-year-old man arrested on suspicion of burglary was released without charge.

The seven men, who appeared at Rochdale Magistrates' Court yesterday have been remanded in custody until their next appearance

A further seven people aged 35, 29, 18, 21, 18, 45 and 19 arrested on suspicion of drugs offences on Wednesday were bailed pending further enquiries.

The raids were the result of an intelligence lead operation code named Operation Perryville aimed at people distributing heroin and crack cocaine.