Dawn raids swoop

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Pair held in 6.30am police storm
TWO men have been arrested during dawn raids to crack down on organised crime.

Police stormed addresses in Cambridge Street and Worcester Street, Werneth, at 6.30am today in a bid to find drugs and uncover money-laundering scams.

Operation Caminada, which involves the police, Oldham Council, the Department of Work and Pensions, has spent months gathering intelligence to identify illegal activities in Oldham, including the business interests, benefits and associates of suspected criminals.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, a warrant was executed and two men — one from Cambridge Street and one from Worcester Street — were arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs.

Chief Supt Tim Forber said: “There’s a core of individuals at the heart of this. They don’t pay taxes and they prey on the most vulnerable people, dealing drugs and peddling misery.

“They represent a negative role model for young people growing up. I would go as far as to call these people parasites.

“Often such criminals set up legitimate businesses in order to launder the money they make from other illegal enterprises. We will collectively work to disrupt those businesses and make it as difficult as possible for them to operate.”

Police say they have undertaken over 120 search warrants this year, resulting in the prosecution of 11 individual offences of supplying controlled drugs — as well as seizing more than £150,000 in cash from criminals.

This operation will complement that work and deliver a clear message to people involved organised crime that they are not wanted in the borough.

The organisations can then use their various powers to make it more difficult for these individuals to pursue their criminal lifestyle, such as revoking their licences and freezing their benefits.

Councillor Jean Stretton said: “We are prepared to stand up and fight for our neighbourhoods because it is our ordinary law-abiding residents and businesses who suffer the effects of organised crime in its various guises.

“Intelligence is obviously a very important part of tackling organised crime and I would urge any residents with information about these kind of activities to report it to the police.

“By working together co-operatively to detect and deter these criminal networks we have a better chance of putting them out of business and improving lives across our neighbourhoods.”

The operation has been named after Jerome Caminada, Manchester’s first CID Superintendent. Caminada served with the police between 1868 and 1899, and was known as Manchester’s Sherlock Holmes.

Anyone who suspects someone is living off crime can pass information anonymously to the police by calling Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.