Halliwell police arrest suspected drug dealer after stop

Neighbourhood officers arrested him in Halliwell area last night, December 23, after spotting him riding an electric motorcycle. 

They found him to be carrying suspected class A drugs and a 'large knife', as well as cash and a number of mobile phones. 

He was arrested for possession with intent to supply and possession of an offensive weapon. 

A spokesperson for GMP Bolton North said: "This evening officers from the Bolton North Neighbourhood Team have arrested a male in Halliwell.

The electric bike (Image: GMP)

"The male was driving an electric Sur-Ron bike when he was detained by officers and searched under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

"The male was found to be in possession of a large quantity of suspected Class A drugs, cash and a number of mobile phones. The male was also carrying a large knife. 

"The male was arrested for (on suspicion of ) possession with intent to supply class A drugs and Possession of an Offensive Weapon." 

He added: "Enquiries established that the male was also wanted for a burglary which occurred in Wigan earlier this year. He is now in police custody awaiting questioning." 

This comes after the police cracked down on drug dealing in Bolton earlier this year with Operation Vulcan. 

They dismantled a Cheetham Hill-based drug operation, in the process raiding properties in Bolton, as well as others in Cheetham Hill, Cheshire and Slough, Berkshire. 

The suspected drugs (Image: GMP)

Earlier this year, mums living in the Halliwell area told how how their children are being targeted by drugs dealers and made an impassioned plea for something to be done. 

The women in Bolton put forward their concerns to police at a community meeting.

One resident explained that her teenage son was regularly targeted on the way home from college, with grown men asking him if he wanted drugs. 

Speaking at the time, Inspector Lisa Clarke said the force were aware of the problems and were working on eliminating it.

She said: “We have officers in the areas but we need the community to tell us so that we can do something about it.

“If you see cars then tell us the registration numbers or contact Crimestoppers.

“If you want to tell us anonymously, we can do that as well, so we have all the resources available and nobody else has to know where it came from.”