13 arrested in drugs raids
Reporter: RICHARD HOOTON
Date published: 18 December 2009
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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.
