Five arrested in dawn raids

EARLY CALLER: police force their way into target homes

POLICE raided homes across Greater Manchester, including one in Coppice, as part of a hard-hitting drugs operation.

Officers targeted a property in Windsor Road as well as addresses in Cheetham Hill and South Manchester yesterday morning. Five men were arrested, one from Oldham.

Those arrested, aged between 27 and 29, remain in custody on suspicion of possession of class B drugs with intent to supply, and possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The early-morning raids follow on from Operation Cairo which resulted in 52 people being sentenced to a total of 147 years in prison for drug dealing on the streets of Cheetham Hill and Crumpsall over the last 18 months.

Anyone with information about those involved in drug-related activity should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.