Two arrested in Oldham, as part of Operation Vortex.

Operation Vortex is taking place across Oldham East

Two people were arrested for drugs offences as part of a day of action in Oldham.

The two men - aged 25 and 27 - were arrested on suspicion of importing class B drugs during Operation Vortex on 14 February 2022. 

Both have been released under investigation while the drugs and other evidence is analysed.

Officers from the Oldham East Neighbourhood Team, which covers the Waterhead, St James, Saddleworth and Lees areas, carried out 11 weapons sweeps, gave knife-crime talks at Knowsley, Littlemoor and St Theresa's primary schools and patrolled burglary hotspots.

There was also a joint operation with GMP's Transport Unit to disrupt crime and weapon offences at Derker Metrolink stop, while 50 speeding tickets will be issued after traffic enforcement at Ripponden Road, Huddersfield Road, Austerlands, and Huddersfield Road, Delph.

Inspector Alan Sanders said: "This was just the first of regular proactive police activity in the East Oldham area where my team will conduct activities that will disrupt criminals, and reassure and engage with the public."

Sergeant Joseph Dunne, of the Waterhead and St James team, added: "I hope today's action reassures the people of Oldham that if they provide us with information we will act on it and people will be arrested and brought to justice.

"The importation and supply of drugs is a blight on the community and has links to organised crime and volume crimes such as burglary and theft of motor vehicles as well as child criminal exploitation and county lines.

"This is something as a neighbourhood team, with the help of the public I want to make a difficult as possible for the criminals involved."

Sergeant Paul Heap, from the Saddleworth and Lees team, said: "This has come from direct concerns raised by members of the public and I hope it will reassure people we are listening to and acting on their concerns."

Anyone with information or concerns should call police or report online or by using the Live Chat function at www.gmp.police.uk. If you can't report online, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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