EIGHT suspected drug dealers were arrested in Bury yesterday after a dawn swoop by police officers.

Seven homes in the East, Redvales and Moorside ward areas were stormed by members of the Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) at 6.40am.

The eight were taken to Bury and Middleton police stations for questioning while police searched their homes for drugs and other property.

Four houses in Rochdale and one in Cheetham were also searched, leading to a further five people being arrested.

Of the 13 arrested, nine men and one woman, all aged between 18 and 33, and a 15-year-old girl were being quizzed on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs. A man and woman were also arrested during the raids after officers found they were wanted on warrant.

The raids were part of Operation Benson and the culmination of months of intelligence gathering by Bury's operational support unit, led by Inspector John Asprey, into the supply of Class A drugs, including heroin and cocaine across the borough.

More than 110 officers from TAU, Bury operational support unit and local section officers were involved.

Following a briefing at 6am at the Irwell Street station in Bury, a fleet of 13 police carriers, each containing teams of six TAU officers, left at 6.40am to target the homes of suspected drug dealers across the borough and in neighbouring towns.

The houses raided in Bury were in Wilson Street, Brighton Street, Central Avenue, Heywood Street, Sunny Drive, Cedar Street and Walmersley Road.

Quantities of heroin and cannabis were recovered along with substantial amounts of cash, mobile phones, vehicles and a bulletproof vest.

At the time of going to press, none of the 13 arrested had been charged.

Superintendent Peter Scofield, of Bury Police, said: "Yesterday's raids are as a result of concerns expressed by the people of Bury. Acting on those concerns, police officers spent months of hard work in gathering evidence, and we intend to limit the supply of heroin and cocaine where our communities live and work.

"Drugs, and the problems that are associated with drugs, can ruin the lives of individuals and blight whole communities. Today's action will, hopefully, improve the quality of life for our residents.

"We will not tolerate drug dealing. The success of the operation will reassure the public that we are taking action to get drugs out of Bury, and make it a safer place to live."