GMP County Lines Team make significant arrests after early morning raid to tackle drug supply and cuckooing in Bolton

This morning (Thursday 6 March) specialist officers from our County Lines Team, supported by Bolton’s neighbourhood policing team executed a warrant at an apartment complex on Avenue Street, Bolton.

In the address, a man and a woman, aged 45 and 42, were arrested on suspicion of possession of intent to supply drugs.

Shortly after, we arrested a 23 year old man in a second flat in the same building, who police believe to be the head of the drugs line, on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession with intent to supply. A 24-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and possession of an offensive weapon.

In the second flat, police located one vulnerable adult, who they suspect is a victim of cuckooing, which is where criminals take over the home of a vulnerable person in order to deal, store, or take drugs and commit other criminal activity.

This adult has been removed from the property, and multi-agency safeguarding work will now begin to ensure they receive the necessary support.

During a search of the second flat, police recovered large quantities of drugs, cash and machetes.

Our County Lines Team investigate suspected drugs lines operating across Greater Manchester using overt and covert methods, including surveillance and other investigative work. If you suspect there is a drugs line operating in your area or that someone is being cuckooed, our officers take this seriously and will act on intelligence. 

Since September 2022, our County Lines Team have executed around 140 warrants, made approximately 366 arrests with 304 charges, seized over 100kg of class A and class B drugs, and closed around 397 county drugs lines. To date, they have secured jail sentences totalling over 750 years, removing some of Greater Manchester’s most harmful offenders from our streets.

Detective Inspector Zoe Macdonald from our County Lines Team said: “This morning’s activity has garnered significant results for the force, not only have we been able to arrest a man who we believe to be a key player in this drugs line, but most importantly, we’ve been able to safeguard a vulnerable adult who was being exploited.

“Our County Lines Team continues to develop and enhance the ways we work with partners and gather intelligence to ensure we are identifying offenders and safeguarding potential victims at the earliest opportunity, and our work remains ongoing to tackle drug crime and the associated violence and exploitation that this illicit trade brings.

“We cannot secure results like this without the support of the local community, their confidence in reporting intelligence to us means we can play a part in making our neighbourhoods safer. I urge the public to keep sharing information about criminal activities or expressing their concerns through contacting us directly, speaking to your local neighbourhood officers or anonymously through Crimestoppers.

“Every bit of information, no matter how small, contributes to our investigations across Greater Manchester and could support us in safeguarding the most vulnerable in our communities."