A 'record breaking' 63 arrests were made after GMP carried out their monthly crime 'blitz' in Rochdale.
During a day of action in the borough, police conducted 11 raids, smashed almost a dozen drug lines, seized £500k's worth of counterfeit items, issued nearly 200 traffic offences, and discovered three large cannabis farms.
GMP's seventh instalment of operation Avro started shortly after midnight on Thursday (April 28). Officers had made 19 arrests before dawn.
A number of the arrests included 10 suspected drug dealers who were taken to custody. GMP Rochdale's new county lines team also dismantled nearly 11 drugs lines operating in the town.
Officers sent devices linked to suspects' phones the stark message: "your number has been identified as being in contact with a County line… and we have taken control of this line."
A suspected chop-shop was also discovered by neighbourhood officers, who found suspected stolen vehicles and parts inside an industrial site.
Officers also worked with Rochdale Council and Metrolink with licensing checks on local taxi firms, weapon sweeps, community outreach and the introduction of the state-of-the-art knife arch to prevent the possession of dangerous weapons.
Yesterday, the MEN followed officers as they embarked on a day of raids, visits and community engagement during the operation.
GMP Rochdale's 63 arrests in 24-hours during Operation Avro tops the Oldham's district 54 arrests from last month. Operation Avro is a police initiative tackling crimes which have been reported by local residents.
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