Stockport Express

Arrests and cash seized after huge drugs swoop ALEX SCAPENS

- Alex.scapens@menmedia.co.uk @AlexScapen­sMEN

ATOTAL of 11 people have appeared in court following raids across Stockport aimed at tackling organised crime and the supply of hard drugs.

The defendants - nine men and two women, the majority of whom are from Reddish - went before Stockport Magistrate­s Court on Friday morning.

No pleas were entered and all of them will next appear at Minshull Street Court on February 24.

More than 300 police officers had been involved with carrying out raids at nine addresses across the borough as part of Operation Challenger after 12 months of planning.

Those who appeared in court charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin have been remanded in custody and were:

John Philip Cheetham, 37, of Cabot Place, Reddish.

Shaun Moss Bagley, 41, of Lostock Avenue, Levenshulm­e.

Gillian Amanda Griffin, 45, of Nutwood Court, Reddish.

Paul Higgins, 47, of Nutwood Court, Reddish.

Robert Andrew Goodall, 34, of Rushford Avenue, Levenshulm­e.

Nathan Wahl, 34, of Station Road, Reddish.

Craig Jonathan Reid, 34, of Woodland Road, Burnage.

Benjamin John McGreevy, 33, of Fallow Fields Drive, Reddish.

Others in the dock include John McGreevy, 58, also of Fallow Fields Drive, Reddish, who was charged with providing motor insurance for vehicles used to supply drugs. He was bailed.

Terry Darren Corless, 50, of Bridgend Close, Gorton, and Jennifer Heather Reynolds, 33, of Plymouth Grove, Edgeley, are both accused of facilitati­ng mobile communicat­ion for an organised crime group.

Mr Corless was remanded in custody, Ms Reynolds was bailed.

The dawn raids recovered £17,386 cash, 21 mobile phones and a stolen vehicle, on Thursday morning.

Superinten­dent Stephen McFarlane, from Greater Manchester Police, said: “This is the culminatio­n of a lot of hard work and a very complex investigat­ion.

“Right from the start we have had community intelligen­ce. Without that informatio­n this investigat­ion would not have started.

“The community voiced their concerns and we acted.

“Without the community support we would not have been in the position we are in today.”

Anyone with informatio­n about criminalit­y in their area should contact police on 101 or the independen­t charity Crimestopp­ers, anonymousl­y, on 0800 555 111.

 ??  ?? ●●Some of the officers on the Operation Challenger raids are briefed before entering the homes of suspected drug dealers
●●Some of the officers on the Operation Challenger raids are briefed before entering the homes of suspected drug dealers
 ??  ?? ●●Det Insp Chris Flint
●●Det Insp Chris Flint

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