County Lines gangs targeted with seven warrants executed across Bolton

Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s County Lines team executed seven warrants across Bolton this morning, working alongside specialist Challenger and complex safeguarding teams to secure several arrests.

The early morning wake-up calls for the residents across the various addresses was a direct result of the team’s work in tackling county lines drug supply and the exploitation of vulnerable people in the Bolton area.

Additionally working with members of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime team, four arrests were made:

• Three men, aged 21, 24, and 26, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs, participation in an organised gang and modern slavery offences.
• One man, aged 26, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs.

During searches of the properties, numerous items were discovered and seized, including an e-bike, Class A and Class B drugs. The four remain in custody for questioning.

County Lines is the use of dedicated phone lines to deal drugs from one location to another. In some instances of county lines gangs, vulnerable people are exploited in order to sell and store drugs.

This can include young children who are lured into a life of crime by older people seeking to convince them to take part in illegal behaviour.

Vulnerable adults may also be forced into similar acts – by people who pretend to be their friend or otherwise threaten them for not assisting with their criminality. In some cases, homes will be taken over and taken advantage of.

Across Greater Manchester, officers work tirelessly every day to tackle drugs and the people who supply them. From our specialist Programme Challenger teams to neighbourhood officers in your local community, GMP seizes significant quantities of drugs and ill-gotten money every week, combatting everything from anti-social drug users to organised criminal dealers.

Detective Inspector Zoe MacDonald, from GMP’s County Lines Team, said: “Drugs and the people who supply them can cause an incredible amount of harm in our community. From addiction to the exploitation of the most vulnerable, illicit substances cause so many types of hurt and criminality across so many towns and cities.

“This morning’s work has targeted reports of county lines operating in Bolton, and the drug supply in the town and wider area. We have successfully hit several addresses across the district and shown criminals that we will never tolerate them.

“I want the people of Bolton to know that we are dedicated to protecting them and ensuring we keep criminals off the streets.

“From regular patrols to intelligence gathering to crucial work with partner agencies, we put considerable resources in to tackling the scourge of drug-related criminality on our streets.

“If you have any concerns about drug supply or county lines operating in your area or feel like you have witnessed something suspicious, please do get in touch with us. You can report information to the police on 101, via gmp.police.uk, or by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “County lines gangs exploit the most vulnerable in society and inflict considerable harm on the wider community.

“As part of our safeguarding responsibilities, we have worked jointly with Greater Manchester Police to disrupt the activity of these gangs and hold those responsible to account.

“As a council, we will always be relentless in identifying anyone who exploits others and take decisive action to keep Bolton’s children and vulnerable adults safe.

“Our specially trained staff continue to work with the victims and to support all those affected.”