Police in Rochdale smashed nearly a dozen known drug lines and detained ten suspected dealers before dawn in operations against so called County Lines
Ten addresses were targeted across the town to disrupt the supply of class A and B drugs.
The raids saw seven men and three women – aged between 20 and 32 arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
During the operation, police alerted thousands of potential customers that we had dismantled the lines by sending a stark message to all phone numbers connected to the drug lines: “your number has been identified as being in contact with a County line… and we have taken control of this line.”
Contact numbers offering help and advice for vulnerable people being forced to sell drugs – or those needing support for drug use – were also shared as part of the notice.
The phone lines are believed to be controlled by gangs operating from the Rochdale area, with the couriering and supply of drugs going from the town across Greater Manchester and potentially beyond.
