Eight men have been charged following a drugs operation

Eight men have been charged following a drugs operation

Eight men have been charged following a drugs operation in Rochdale.

Ashafaq Yousaf (Born 20/10/1986) of Stanley Street, Rochdale has been charged with 20 offences of supplying Class A drugs

Biniamin Ayub (born 15/01/1995) of Arthur Street, Rochdale has been charged with two offences of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and eight offences of supplying Class A drugs

Terrence Meecham (born 08/02/1980) of Kirkstall, Rochdale has been charged with nine offences of supplying Class A drugs

Adeel Younis (born 15/09/1994) of Heights lane, Rochdale has been charged with two offences of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and five offences of supplying Class A drugs

Ghulam Hadhar (born 15/08/1988) of St Peters Street, Rochdale has been charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs

Jordan Betham (born 27/11/1991) of Bentley Mews, Rochdale has been charged with eight offences of supplying Class A drugs and two offences of converting criminal property

Iftaker Mohammed (born 17/12/1982) of Hey Street, Rochdale has been charged with four offences of supplying Class A drugs

Ashtaq Mohammed (born 10/07/1988) of Gladstone Buildings, Rawtenstall has been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

All eight men have been remanded in custody and are due before Bury Magistrates’ court on today, Thursday 3 April 2014.

Officers from Rochdale’s neighbourhood policing teams launched the operation, codenamed Operation Rakanda, as their response to concerns the community had that street drug dealing was a problem.

This operation forms part of Operation Challenger, which is the Force’s strategy for tackling organised crime groups across Greater Manchester.

The raids came after months of investigations by officers from the Rochdale division and Serious Crime Division into the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin.

A multi-agency plan is now in place for the area to ensure support for drug users and to prevent any further offending in the area.

A 38-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and conspiracy to supply a controlled drug has been bailed pending further enquiries until 28 May 2014.

A 29-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis has been bailed until 21 May 2014.

A 17-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of theft has been bailed pending further enquiries until 21 May 2014.