Police uncovered a cannabis farm and seized cash, drugs and a knife during a series of dramatic raids across Oldham today (Thursday).
So far 19 suspects have been arrested as part of the drive to 'take the fight' to the criminals of the town.
Among the police finds is a large cannabis farm in a house off Robinson Street in the town. Cash, other drugs and a knife have also been seized.
About 200 GMP officers, together with council, HM Revenue and Customs, immigration enforcement and National Crime Agency officers, were involved in a series of raids and operations across Oldham on Thursday.
Neighbourhood cops, riot police, traffic officers and police dogs were involved as GMP executed 28 search warrants at addresses across the town to tackle drug dealing and other crime.
Some 13 venues, mostly car washes, were also subjected to 'compliance checks' by immigration and HM Revenue and Customs officials, supported by police.
At the same time police were conducting stop searches at Metrolink tram stations where archway metal detectors were used to seize knives and other weapons. Traffic police also carried out stop checks to root out rogue drivers.
A knife, drugs and cash have been seized. By 3pm, some 19 suspects had been arrested and were in custody awaiting interview.
The M.E.N. joined one of drugs search warrants at an address on Brunswick Street in Shaw. It followed the interception of a kilo of cannabis which had been posted from America.
During another raid near Robinson Street, a cannabis farm was uncovered and a man was arrested. Bundles of cash were seized and another man was arrested at a different address.
We also joined an inspection by immigration officials at a car wash in the town centre.
The raids in Oldham came under an umbrella operation dubbed Avro, introduced by Chief Constable Stephen Watson when he was installed at the helm of GMP in May 2021. The force has now conducted 16 Avro operations across all its divisions.
When it was last held in Oldham in March last year the man who led the op, Chf Supt Chris Bowen, rallied his officers in a speech referencing Winston Churchill who made his maiden speech as an MP in the town in 1900. The op led to a number of long jail sentences.
Briefing cops on Thursday morning, the top cop again cited Churchill's connection to the town and told officers who had mustered at the Oldham Leisure Centre sports hall ahead of the raids: "Today isn't about GMP. Today isn't about Oldham Council. Today is about the communities of Oldham and what we can do to protect the communities of Oldham. We are going to go out there today and we're going to kicks some doors off this morning and we're going to arrest some people.
"And we're gonna do that for one reason and one reason only, and that's to protect the people of Oldham."
He vowed to 'take the fight' to the criminals of the town.
Following the execution of 28 warrants, Chf Supt Bowen said: "There's criminals all over Oldham wondering if we're coming for them next."
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