Greater Manchester Police (GMP) took part in a national week of intensification last week aimed at disrupting and dismantling County Lines.
County Lines are the use of dedicated phone lines to supply drugs from urban areas out to smaller towns across the country. This does however also occur from one area to another within the same city.
A total of 32 warrants took place, resulting in 39 arrests across Greater Manchester, with over £90,000 in cash and drugs with a street value of over £160,000 seized. These included heroin, crack, cocaine, cannabis, pills, and ketamine.
Mobile phones, and multiple vehicles were confiscated along with a taxi and an e-bike. A Rolex watch, and other high value clothing were also recovered.
With County Lines drug operations often also comes serious violence, whether that be aimed inside the groups themselves, or towards rival gangs. As part of this intensification period officers have discovered and seized three firearms, hunting knives, machetes, knuckle dusters, extendable batons, swords, axes, and BB guns.
These seizures are incredibly important as they demonstrate GMP’s unwavering commitment to tackling serious violence and preventing harm to the community.
Alona Gordon aged 19 of Briscoe Lane, Manchester has been charged and remanded with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and as being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin.
Melissa McDonald aged 46 of Boxhill Drive, Manchester has been charged with permitting the use of premises for supply of Class A drugs and been placed on court bail.
Emma Muirhead also of Boxhill Drive, Manchester has been charged and remanded for possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis.
They await their next court appearances.
A quantity of crack cocaine, cocaine, cannabis, ketamine as well as a machete, two extendable batons and three mobile phones have been recovered.
Following two drugs warrants on the Wigan district, a man has been charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
William Bates,24 of Tintern Avenue, Tyldesley has been remanded awaiting a further court appearance.
Two women also arrested have been bailed whilst enquiries continue.
A man has been charged following a pursuit during a warrant in Ashton Under Lyne on Friday 13 October.
Ryan Cook aged 33 of Hope Street has been charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, namely cocaine and heroin and possession with intent to supply cannabis.
Officers recovered a quantity of drugs during the search of a property and car.
Mathias Akinyemi,27,of Ardwick Green North awaits his next court appearance on Friday 17 November remanded in relation to charges of possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs, as well as possession of criminal property.
A joint warrant with officers from the City of Manchester Central Challenger, XCalibre Task Force and Longsight Neighbourhood Team was conducted on Friday 13 October 2023, with a quantity of cannabis and cocaine recovered as well as a hunting knife, body armour, high value clothing and jewellery, plus cash estimated to be £12,000.
Another element to the week of intensification was ensuring those identified as being exploited into County Lines, whether that be children or vulnerable adults, were engaged with and safeguarded, with the aim of helping them through the process of getting out of their current situation.
In total 17 adults and 42 children were referred into safeguarding, with 20 cuckooed addresses also visited. (Cuckooing is the term used for when criminals exploit vulnerable people into letting them store drugs or other items linked to criminality within their property.)
