Twelve arrested in major drugs operation

Arrest in major drugs operation

Twelve people have been arrested following an operation to target suspected criminals involved in the trafficking and supply of large amounts of Class A drugs.

Today, 27 March 2013, officers from the Organised Crime Unit carried out a number of warrants across Rochdale, Oldham and Tameside.

Eleven warrants were executed and twelve people, nine men and three women, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and money laundering and remain in police custody for questioning.

Chief Superintendent Catherine Hankinson said: "These arrests mark the culmination of months of work between ourselves and police in Cleveland to target those suspected of flooding the streets of Greater Manchester with Class A drugs.

"They are the latest in a string in operations we have been running over the past year to target all those involved in blighting our communities with the sale and importation of drugs.

"This action is a response to what residents are telling us time and time again, which is to see these people taken off the streets and stop drugs from causing harm. In the last 12 months we have made huge inroads into tackling this problem by seizing up to £3m worth of drugs but we know we have more work to do.

"We will continue to target criminals who line their pockets by peddling drugs, and using Proceeds of Crime Act legislation we can also seize their assets that all too often are paid for out of drug money.

"None of this would be possible without the help and support of the local community, and their information is absolutely vital to us. We see this very much as a partnership and I would continue to encourage people to report any suspicious behaviour to us or any concerns you have, and together we can continue to strike back against drug dealers."