Over 400 cannabis plants seized and two arrested after early morning raids in Oldham

Images courtesy of GMP

As the rest of the community were just waking up this morning (Tuesday), neighbourhood police officers and an Op Challenger team in Oldham were sat in a briefing room, getting ready to conduct a warrant in Hollins.

This morning, officers have seized over 400 mature cannabis plants and two men aged 24 and 25 have been arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis and remain in police custody for questioning.

Chief Superintendent Phil Hutchinson, of GMP’s Oldham District, said: "Cannabis-related crime can be misconstrued as being a 'low level', but there are underlying serious and organised networks that are running these enterprises, and this is just one aspect of their criminal businesses – which often funds violence on our streets and blights our communities.

"The action this morning has not only been able to disrupt criminal operations, but this is organised criminality controlling the grows, so the activity today has weakened the crime networks in both Oldham and the wider Greater Manchester area.

“I would like to thank the members of the public who have reported their suspicions to us through Crimestoppers.

“I hope the action today shows that we will act on information submitted to us as we seek to keep our communities safe, to help us, we want the public to continue reporting their concerns - it may be the final piece of the intelligence jigsaw that we need.

“In the last seven days alone, officers from Operation Challenger and Neighbourhood teams have recovered cannabis with an estimated street value of £1.2million, and we will continue to take the fight to criminals and disrupting organised criminality."

If you have any concerns about crime in your neighbourhood - please report it to police on 101 or by using the ‘LiveChat’ facility on: gmp.police.uk

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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