Bolton: Five arrested as GMP dawn raids linked to county lines crime

At 5am yesterday, Thursday, March 2, officers from Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Challenger organised crime team in Bolton executed four warrants at addresses on Oxford Grove, Harvest Park, Southfield Street, and Lonsdale Road.

Five men, aged 21, 23, 35, 48, and 51, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and are currently in police custody.

Residents close to one of the addresses reported a large police presence and the sound of windows smashing and lots of shouting.

Oxford Grove (Image: Public contribution)

And a photograph taken today, Friday March 3, shows the address on Oxford Grove with one of its windows now boarded up.

Detective Sergeant Carla Deighton said: “The warrants were a success with numerous arrests and searches of the addresses leading to large amounts of cocaine and heroin being seized along with £20,000 in cash.

“We believe the warrants are connected to county lines, a type of criminality known for the exploitation of children and vulnerable adults.

Some of the seized cash (Image: GMP)

“I want to take this opportunity to encourage the public to be our eyes and our ears by reporting information linked to organised crime.

"Please contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or GMP via 101 and be reassured that we will continue to act on it.”

Programme Challenger is Greater Manchester’s partnership response to tackling serious and organised crime.

Seized drugs (Image: GMP)

It works together to pursue and disrupt serious and organised crime groups as well as reduce the risks to vulnerable people and stop them from becoming victims.

This type of criminality includes county lines, exploitation of young children and vulnerable adults, modern slavery, immigration, and economic crime, and the use of firearms.