Police arrest 17 in early morning raids across Greater Manchester and Oldham

Sixteen men have been arrested on suspicion of various offences - including drugs supply, assault, violent disorder, affray, burglary and robbery - after police smashed down doors during early morning raids across Greater Manchester and Oldham.

More than 250 officers took part in two waves of strikes against addresses linked to a suspected organised crime group which has been causing misery across Heywood and the surrounding areas yesterday (Wed) morning. 

Beginning at 5am, the Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) officers secured arrests of multiple people believed to hold senior positions within organised crime. 

An hour later, a second round of strikes against target addresses saw further arrests and more early wake-up calls for suspects. 

In total, 20 warrants were carried out, with more addresses visited afterwards. This included areas across Greater Manchester including Salford, Bury and Oldham. Warrants outside the force included areas of Lancashire and Merseyside. 

The operation has been months in the planning, with officers from Rochdale CID, Operation Challenger and Neighbourhood teams painstakingly working through mountains of evidence, intelligence and data. 

The group is believed to be involved in a wide-spanning range of criminality – including drug-dealing, violence, child criminal exploitation, cuckooing, burglary, theft, robbery and more. 

Intelligence on the group’s work has been gathered using a combination of surveillance, digital investigations, witness accounts, CCTV analysis and forensic enquiries. 

While work has been taking place during this time to tackle various crimes – which has seen arrests and charges – the raids yesterday were aimed at targeting and dismantling the group in one fell swoop. 

Sixteen men, aged between 19 and 49, were arrested on suspicion of various offences, including drugs supply, assault, violent disorder, affray, burglary, and robbery. One woman aged 21 was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs. 

So far, officers have recovered multiple quantities of drugs, as well as discovering a cannabis farm across two floors of a property. 

In addition, a Surron bike, multiple machetes, knives and suspected stolen property has been discovered and seized. 

Detective Sergeant Hannah Taala, from GMP’s Rochdale district, said: “This day has been months in the planning and I am delighted with the results that have already come in. We have arrested multiple people suspected of being involved in a range of offences, including drug-dealing, robberies, burglaries and assaults. 

“This cycle of violence stops here. We have been able to strike a significant blow against a group that has been causing misery across the Rochdale district. People have asked us to tackle the issue and that’s exactly what we’ve done. 

“The work doesn’t stop now, with searches still ongoing, further intelligence gathered, and evidence being compiled to secure charges. 

“We will continue to tackle any issues that arise in Rochdale and put in bespoke plans to address them wherever we can. Make no mistake, today was a huge day and one that has required extensive planning – but we will not hesitate to have further mornings like this if anyone else decides to ruin others’ lives with their actions.”