GMP makes 40 arrests, closes 20 drug lines and seizes class A and B drugs during County Lines Intensification Week

Throughout a week of action, various policing activities took place alongside partners across all of Greater Manchester's districts.

Police officers conducted a total of 30 warrants, resulting in 40 arrests across Greater Manchester, with 20 active drugs lines closed down.  

Over £34,000 in cash and a substantial amount of class A and class B drugs were seized.

These included heroin, amphetamines, cocaine and cannabis.

Mobile phones, weapons including stun guns, zombie knives, crossbows, and an axe were also confiscated.

Electric bikes, designer goods and high-value electronic devices were also recovered.

County Lines Intensification Week ran as part of a national coordinated action targeting county lines offenders, removing dangerous drugs and weapons from our streets, and safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.  

County Lines is the use of dedicated phone lines to deal drugs from one location to another.

It often exploits children and vulnerable adults, who are groomed and coerced into moving, storing and selling drugs.  

County Lines teams use the Ps as a strategy to tackle organised criminals trafficking drugs and safeguard vulnerable people: Prevent, Protect, Prepare and Pursue.

County Lines officers and partners work relentlessly to pursue offenders. 

The week kicked off after officers seized cannabis with an estimated value of between £402,600 and £1,006,500 following an early morning warrant at an industrial unit on Gardner Street, Pendleton, Salford.   

Inside the property, they found a substantial cannabis grow spread across multiple rooms, along with equipment used to power and maintain the operation.   

The electricity supply had also been dangerously bypassed, posing a serious fire risk to neighbouring properties.  

Six men aged between 20 and 42, were arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis and abstracting electricity, with five charged and one bailed with conditions.   

Challenger officers from Oldham, with the help of GMP's Tactical Aid Unit (TAU), executed two early morning warrants at a residential address and a business premises as part of an investigation into a drugs line operating in the local area and shut down a county line.  

The suspect tried to evade arrest by making a run out of the back of the address, however, officers surrounding the property managed to catch and arrest him. 

This resulted in a man arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply of class A drugs.

Class A drugs and a mobile phone were seized during searches.   

In relation to this investigation, a series of warrants were also executed at other addresses in Oldham with further individuals were arrested.

Five men have been charged. 

Three warrants were executed across Northenden and Salford which resulted in another county line being shut down.

This activity was part of an investigation into a County Line involved in the supply and distribution of class A and class B drugs including Ketamine, cocaine and cannabis.  

Three men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of various drug related offences, and officers recovered a substantial amount of class A and class B drugs as well as phones and cash.

Four people were charged in relation to these warrants. 

Police and partners raised awareness in communities by building resilience against the harms of County Lines through various community engagement visits. 

Detective Inspector John Schofield, from GMP's Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “We have had a very busy and successful County Lines Intensification Week, with various lines disrupted thanks to the warrants we have executed.   

“Intelligence gathered from the community played a vital role in us being able to conduct this activity, which saw 30 warrants, resulting in 40 arrests and 20 drug lines closed down across Greater Manchester.

"This action is a powerful example of our commitment to dismantle organised crime in our region.    

“Working with partners meant we were also able to deliver a comprehensive prevent programme so we could engage with young people in Greater Manchester. 

"Drugs gangs that target and exploit children are child abusers, and we are increasingly looking to prosecute offenders through the Modern Slavery Act.

"Young people being exploited by drugs gangs are not criminals, and we are here to work with partners to protect them and prevent further harm."

If you are concerned about crime in your area, call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Information can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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