CROOKS operating in an East Lancashire town are linked to Manchester's violent underworld drug gangs, police have revealed.

Officers have been investigating links between organised crime and drugs in Darwen and believe they may be behind a series of incidents.

A top secret operation was launched in the town at the end of last year by the Lancashire force's major crime unit.

The undercover action, labelled Operation Gettysburg, was launched after police were tipped off about the activities of several suspects.

Police were told a handful of offenders had a tight control of all criminal activity in the town.

Following the operation, which took place in the run up to Christmas, arrests were made and a large haul of cocaine recovered from an address in the town.

Manchester has experienced an explosion of violent crime in recent months and there have been a number of gang-related shootings and murders.

The sinister links have been made public by Chief Constable Pauline Clare in a report to the Lancashire Police Authority.

She said: "Operation Gettysburg centred around Darwen and, in particular, a number of individuals who are controlling the criminality in the town.

"The targets had very strong links with the Manchester area and had connections with individuals allegedly involved in high scale violence in Manchester over previous months."

The chief constable's report was being discussed at today's police authority meeting.

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