Drugs found as houses raided for second time
Date published: 06 February 2009
THREE men were arrested when police carried out a drugs raid on two houses.
The 17-strong team from the divisional taskforce launched the operation on the adjoining properties in Dowry Street, Fitton Hill, yesterday.
It was the second time officers had raided the houses in three months.
Uniformed police were again faced with one semi-detached property full of exotic animals, including reptiles, frogs, an alligator snapping turtle, pirhana fish, proon sharks, tiger oscar fish, a lemur shovel-nosed catfish, grey parrot and an 8ft python in the back yard.
The second property had snakes, lizards and frogs.
Drugs were also found and seized from both premises. No animals were seized.
Two men, aged 21 and 26, from one house and a 43-year-old man from the second property were arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs.
Officers had raided the two properties in November last year, when drugs worth £5,000 were seized as well as jewellery and animals. Five people were arrested.
But recent intelligence suggested drugs activity continued to take place.
The raid was part of Operation Resolute, a three-month crackdown on robbery, burglary and vehicle crime.
PC Kevin Rawcliffe said: “Yesterday’s warrants were carried out as part of the ongoing operation across the borough.
“We are keen to keep the pressure on those committing crime in our communities and I would urge anyone with any information relating to stolen property from burglary or drugs in Oldham to contact the police.”
Greater Manchester Police’s newly-formed Forensic Response Unit (FRU) also attended to help secure evidence.
Heroin seized
A man has been charged after heroin worth more than £500,000 was seized in Hathershaw.
Ali Imran, of Letham Street, Hathershaw, was charged with possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and appeared at Oldham Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Police discovered a substantial amount of heroin and drug paraphernalia at a house on Letham Street shortly after 8am on Wednesday.
