Crackdown targets ‘new generation’

OPERATION Toadstool is the latest police crackdown on dealing in Macclesfield.

It was launched after police claimed a ‘new generation’ of dealers had found new ways of pedalling narcotics by running mobile operations from cars.

Detectives said that criminals took a more mobile approach to dealing following the success of Operation Dizi in 2013 and Operation Dresden in 2014.

Those operations tackled the supply of drugs into the town after detectives began investigating links with the drugs trade in Macclesfield and suppliers in Merseyside.

Sergeant Simon Degg, who was in charge of Operation Toadstool, said: “This has had a huge impact on drug dealing in Macclesfield and caused considerable disruption.

“The aim of the operation was to make the lives of street dealers particularly difficult and show the community that we are here.

“The operation was a plain clothed operation throughout the whole of Macclesfield Town, which was led by intelligence provided by the public via their PCSOs, Crimestoppers and 101 calls.

“It will be resurrected in the future.”