A TEENAGER from the West Mercia policing area is among those to have been charged in relation to a multi-million pound drugs haul in Manchester.

British Transport Police conducted the two-day County Lines operation where officers targeted key stations across Manchester on Monday and Tuesday last week while intelligence led to a search where a quarter of a ton of cannabis worth £6.1m was retrieved from an address in the city.

A 17-year-old from the West Mercia area was charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and possession of criminal property.

OTHER NEWS:

He was joined by Craig Tomlinson, 50, of Duchess Court, in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, who was charged with being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs (Cannabis) and appeared before Carlisle Magistrates on Thursday.

He was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Manchester Crown Court on December 12.

Xiaowu Chen, 56, of Stadium Drive, Manchester was also charged with being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs (Cannabis) and appeared at Salford Magistrates Court on Thursday and remanded in custody until his next appearance, also December 12.

The multi-agency operation dubbed Op Blume was led by British Transport Police specialist County Lines taskforce supported by GMP and City of London Police dog section.

Other partners included the National Crime Agency, immigration services and safeguarding partners, social workers and drug and alcohol workers.

The taskforce deployed officers from BTP’s dog section, Neighbourhood Policing Team, and Operational Support Unit while plain clothed officers and knife arches were also integral to the operation.

Nine people were arrested, 45 stop searches were conducted over the two days and three addresses were searched in Manchester, Rochdale and West Mercia.

Get in touch

Share your views on this story by sending a letter to the editor. To get in touch email news@bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk, or fill in the form on this section of our website.

A knife and £30k in cash were also seized while two children were identified and referred to safeguarding services after officers made vital interventions on the rail network.

One adult was also safeguarded at a cuckooed address in the Manchester area.

Det. Supt Craig Payne from BTP’s County Lines Taskforce said: “This was a hugely successful operation which once again demonstrates the effectiveness of our specialist County Lines taskforce is dismantling and disrupting criminal networks and protecting young and vulnerable people from harm.”