Drugs operation between Manchester and Grimsby busted after joint police work into phone usage

Anthony Bardsley (31/10/1988) of Winterdyne Street in Manchester, has been sentenced to 42 months for his part in the drugs operation at Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday 7 August 2023.

In November 2022, Humberside Police brought it to the attention of Greater Manchester Police a specific phone number that was believed to be a dedicated county line offering crack cocaine and heroin for sale in the Grimsby area, with the cell siting being exclusive to the Greater Manchester area.

Operation Halley was launched as a cross-force county line investigation between GMP and Humberside. Following extensive enquiries evidence was obtained between September 2022 and February 2023 which confirmed the phone line to be a dedicated drug line sending bulk messages to a wide range of drug users. The same evidence showed the phone to be based within Greater Manchester, but the harm inflicted expanded out to Humberside.

After further investigation, a drug valuation officer determined the content of the messages were referring to the sale of cocaine.

Additional analysis of Bardsley number matched the dedicated drug line and earlier this year in February 2023, dawn raids from GMP’s County Lines teams and Serious Crime Division conducted a warrant on Winterdyne Street in Manchester in relation to the misuse of drugs act. After attending the address forced entry was used and the occupants of the address, including Bardsley, were detained whilst a systematic search of the address took place, where an arrest then followed on suspicion of the supply of Class A drugs. He also tested positive for drugs.

Anthony Bardsley

From the search the dedicated drug phone supplying crack and heroin in the Grimsby area was recovered as well as his personal phone which contained evidence of his involvement in the supply of these drugs, including an audio file after sending videos showing someone turning cocaine into crack, stating; “Just for the record my name is Anthony Bardsley, born 31/10/1988 and I’m just letting you know that this is nothing to do with *** this is all my cocaine and everything to do with it is all to do with me.”

PC Sam Schofield of GMP’s County Lines Team said; “Our meticulous investigation, with the support from our colleagues in Humberside, has stopped another supply of drugs, this time in Grimsby but from Manchester. County lines drug operations have a devastating impact on the lives of those who are the most vulnerable in society and our continued aim is to prevent, protect and pursue those who intend on breaking the law.

“We are relentless in our approach and Challenger will always listen to concerns raised in the community to help tackle serious and organised crime.”

Detective Superintendent Rhod Troake of Humberside Police, added; “We continue to work tirelessly to identify county lines and share intelligence with police forces and partners nationally.

“We are determined to make Humberside a hostile place for organised crime groups to operate a county line and this sentence will deter others from trafficking drugs into Humberside.”