Operation Venture in Oldham - police seize stolen mopeds, uncover hidden drugs in cannisters and bust established drug lines

Greater Manchester Police's dedicated team tasked with tackling serious violence deployed to the Oldham district for the end of November and start of December 2024.

The deployment took place over two weeks, focusing on intense patrols from Operation Venture who supports the work of the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) – a multi-agency team that seeks to prevent violence by addressing the underlying causes.

With officers embedding themselves in the area it ensures a heightened and more proactive response to keep the local community safe.

Results included:

18 arrests

17 positive stop searches (40%)

32 intelligence submissions for ongoing investigations

£2,000 cash seized

£5,000 worth of drugs recovered

Two weapons taken off the streets

Nine vehicles removed from the roads

Nine weapon sweeps of parks and open areas linked to crime

A team made up of an Inspector, two sergeants and 12 officers, supported by a wider analytical support group, used a mix of covert and high-visibility tactics to tackles offenders in the act and make a sizeable impact of reducing serious violence on the streets of Oldham.

With recent incidents before and during the deployment linked to fast food delivery drivers being targeted at knife point for cash and goods, the unit focused their efforts on providing a constant impact within the borough to prevent further violence.

This resulted in significant finds around the seizure of uninsured vehicles and drugs.

Examples of positive work included on Tuesday, November 19, a stolen moped was pursued by patrols of two men believed to be armed with weapons and was later abandoned and recovered in Derker.

As patrols continued to search the area, five other me were stopped in a vehicle linked to information to suspected burglaries.

Two days later, a drug user was observed getting into a vehicle near to the town centre on Horsedge Street.

Two young men were inside, which meant the Op Venture group pounced and initiated a tactical block to prevent escape.

All three were searched and 10 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin were located along with mobile phones believed to be used in the sale of drugs and other paraphernalia.

Enquiries later identified to be a part of an established drugs line with a further 90 wraps being found on a female.

As officers waited for recovery, another stolen moped with two people riding on it passed by.

Pre-emptive tactics by the patrol meant they were able to unseat them both, who were both in their 20s, and following a short foot chase detained them for theft of motor vehicles offences.

Towards the end of November, the team again uncovered an unusual but interesting find linked to another known drugs line.

If you’re wondering what to get the lads and dads for Christmas, make sure it’s not a Lynx deodorant cannister filled with drugs. 

On another Tuesday afternoon in Oldham the team spotted, stopped and searched two separate drug deal incidents.

One raised suspicion due to the erratic and dangerous manner of the driving, with drugs being found in the car along with a lock knife meaning an arrest was made of a 27-year-old man.

The other, plain clothed patrols spotted another suspicious vehicle and a subsequent drug deal.

After attempting to make off all three men were detained, with one being in his 50s and two in their 20s, and upon a further search found 100 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin.

As November came to a close four vehicles were stopped over two days.

One was taken off the streets for no insurance as the driver had no licence and was uninsured as a result.

Another two drew attention, one on Chapel Road near Limeside and the other at a junction of Ashton Road in Fitton Hill, for the manner of driving again.

Checks highlighted the driver of the first incident, a 22-year-old man, had no insurance either.

He failed to provide a drugs side road test too so was arrested for further offences.

The driver, another man in his 20s, from the second incident also didn’t have valid insurance.

With the deployment continuing at pace another two incidents rumbled suspects in the act.

The first was in relation to another drug deal, following a short pursuit, the 28-year-old driver was arrested and two large bags of cocaine and ketamine were found.

To add insult to injury, he was also arrested for having no insurance.

At the start of December, officers spotted a vehicle that piqued interest parked up on Laycock Crescent in Failsworth.

As they approached, three men in their 20s made off and were caught nearby.

All were searched along with the vehicle and all found to be in possession of cannabis, with another vehicle having numerous items suspected to be related to burglaries by going equipped.

Sergeant Mohammed Waqas, of GMP's Operation Venture team, said: “As you can see from our deployment it was a busy few weeks in where our work uncovered uninsured vehicles linked to serious crime involving young men.

“It highlights our determination to patrol the streets we know well with intense pressure on suspected criminals to stop them in their tracks.

"We will be returning to Oldham unannounced to continue our proactive policing tactic of getting out there and tracking incidents before or as they happen to help keep communities safe.

“Our work is dependent on intelligence and part of this is assistance from members of the public who can report their concerns direct to 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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