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13 arrested in drugs raids
Reporter: RICHARD HOOTON
Date online: 18/12/2009
Cash, crack and cars seized
A MAJOR drugs bust saw 100 police officers raid 12 houses across Oldham to seize narcotics, cash and cars.
The early morning raids yesterday resulted in 13 arrests.
Police chiefs say the action will have a knock-on effect in reducing crimes such as robbery and burglary by addicts funding drug deals.
Three people are still being sought and police chiefs say the operation will continue into the New Year with more raids possible.
They stressed there was no link to the three murders connected to Oldham this year that have raised fears of Asian gangs using shotguns and automatic weapons to protect drug-dealing.
Those arrested are predominantly white.
Many of those arrested are known to police and the community — they were described as “street level dealers and the tier above that.”
Six months of intelligence gathering and planning went into Operation Font after tip-offs from the local community.
The simultaneous raids began at 6am with officers smashing their way into homes.
They arrested nine men and four women, aged from 26 to 54, on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply.
Police recovered a large quantity of amphetamines, crack cocaine, cannabis and heroin, along with £2,300 cash, and seized seven vehicles.
Supt Steve Nibloe said: “We will always try to tackle drug dealers as they cause misery on a number of levels — to those using drugs, to the community that has to put up with the anti-social behaviour and intimidation and those who suffer the burglaries and robberies that fund addictions.
“It’s a large number of arrests and will make a lot of other potential drug dealers think twice before they do it. Operations like this send out a big message.
“The local community do not want drugs here and we won’t tolerate drug dealing. If you continue to deal in drugs we will come knocking on your door.
“The operation will continue and anyone else we find to be dealing drugs in Oldham will be dealt with in a similar way.”
Anyone who is concerned about drug dealing in their area should ring police on 0161-872 5050 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555 111.
Comments
Well done to the police for finding these criminals! Can we now hope that the likes of Meacher and Woollas campaign for magistrates/judges to have the power to impose REAL custodial sentences that DETER these people from becoming recidivists instaed of the one hour per week community service that is currently given! MESSAGE TO THIS GOVT. - if you need to spend public money....build more tough prisons
Another example of the PC PC's avoiding the real problem, taking out a few minor dealers will not do anything to stop the issue of drugs in our town, and by leaving the main players alone GMP are signalling their tacit acceptance of their crimes. The longer this goes on the more chance they have of consolidating their positions. We are creating local warlords in our town.
"predominantly white" why is that statement in?
Over 80% of the population of Oldham are white!!
Like Timberwolf and johnnye98. I too wonder why the police have to use the phrase "predominantly white" This is PC madness. Would they I wonder use the phrase "Predominently Asian or Ethnic"
Mikejh45 more tough prisons like the one the people of Chadderton fought so hard not to have built near them? And would you really want to run the risk of being sentenced to 5 years by one of Saddleworths blue rinse brigade? Have you seen the profile of most magistraites? Lets not abandon trial by jury especially with this rotten government.
What has being white got to do with being a law breaker.Timberwolf has the right idea any drug arrests are for the good of all the people.
I retired from policing here in Canada almost 16 years ago and at that time any reporting of arrests no matter what for there was no mention of what ethnic background a person was and even today in the city I live in that is a non issue.
I wonder if the same would have applied had those arrested had been nonwhite.
Flake - I think the majority of law-abiding members of the public have no need to worry about the 'blue-rinse' magistrates handing out a 5 year prison sentence for the simple reason they are law-abiding. However, there are certain crimes that at present receive embarassingly lenient sentences and require a harsh prison requirement so as to put off the criminal from ever going back inside.
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"those arrested are predominantly white" Why do they feel the need to say that? Any drug arrests are good news for the people of Oldham but that comment really puzzles me.
By timberwolf @ 18/12/2009 13:33:35
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