POLICE today hailed a major drugs crackdown as a huge success and warned dealers there is more to come.
In total 31 people were arrested during a two day blitz on addresses in Blackburn, Hyndburn and Blackpool as part of Operation Hurricane.
More than 250 officers from all across the six divisions took part in a series of dawn raids over the past two days which police promised would change the face of Blackburn forever. Raids on addresses in Blackburn yesterday resulted in 10 people being charged with drug-related offences, bringing the total to 24. They will appear before Blackburn Magistrates today. Four more are still being questioned by police.
Detective Superintendent David Mallaby said the raids acted as a warning to everyone involved in drugs.
Charges yesterday all relate to offences involving either heroin or crack-cocaine. Those charged are from Blackburn. They are: Moehuddin Bagas, 21, of Blackburn Street, who was also charged with possession and intent to supply a class B substance; Faisal Hussain, 17, of Calder Street; Maqshud Mohammed, 27, of Barngill Close; Imran Khan, 25, of Pringle Street; Aftab Ahmed, 21, of Queens Park Road; Seth Ryden, 22, of St Mary's Wharf; George Chatwood, 39, of Melville Street; Gillian Chatwood, of Melville Street; Stephen Thurston, 32, of Whitendale Crescent and Yasser Akram, 20, of Brantfell Road.
Fourteen people arrested in dawn swoops on the first day have appeared in court charged with drug offences.
Abdul Malik, 26, of Queen's Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to 15 charges of supplying drugs was committed in custody for sentence at Preston Crown Court.
Taxi driver Peter Bailey, 42, of Blackburn Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to six offences of supplying and two of being concerned in supply and was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court for sentence.
Two men from Blackpool also pleaded guilty and ten others from Blackburn and Accrington all denied charges and were remanded on bail.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article