39 drugs gang members put behind bars for 125 years
APOLICE operation which tackled drugs gangs operating in the Macclesfield has seen 39 people locked up for a total of almost 125 years, it can be revealed.
It comes as the final dealers snared by the crackdown, including Michael Mushrow who banked £450,000, were locked up.
The arrests and convictions were all secured under Operation Alzira and was the latest in a long line of attempts to tackle the supply of drugs in the town.
Police used undercover officers to carry out test purchases with dealers, and intensive surveillance and telecommunications analysis to map a number of criminal gangs bringing drugs from Liverpool and Manchester into Macclesfield.
In 2013 Operation Dizi culminated in 70 arrests and 28 convictions totalling 33 years in prison.
Operation Dresden in 2014 resulted in 34 more convictions totalling 27 years in prison and around £800,000 worth of drugs taken off the streets.
Then in 2015 a next ‘generation’ of dealers found new ways of pedalling narcotics by running mobile operations from cars. This was cracked by Operation Toadstool using the Eastern Area Crime Car team to intercept them.
Alzira was a year-long operation which came to the boil last September when 200 police officers launched a series of raids at addresses in Macclesfield, and other locations in Cheshire, Manchester and Liverpool. In the following months further raids across the region followed and more gangs were cracked.
Detective Sergeant Gavin Day said the operation had produced great results but warned drug supply is a perpetual pattern: as soon as one criminal gang is cracked, another takes it place.
He said: “This operation has struck at the heart of a number of organised crime gangs by removing the hierarchy who organise the drug supply and reap the benefits from the profits generated.
“This should send out a strong warning that Cheshire Police is committed to tackling this type of crime and will do all it can to ensure that those involved in organ- ised crime and the supply and distribution of illegal drugs are identified and dealt with.
“Illegal drugs have no place in Macclesfield and are a blight on the lives of residents – the disman- tling of highly organised gangs involved in selling drugs on our streets is one of the key priorities for the force. Cheshire Constabulary is determined to bring to justice those who continue to undermine our communities and bring misery to residents.” ● Anyone with any information about crime or drug related activity can call 101, or via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.