EIGHT borough residents charged after police raids on major drug supply rings

On Wednesday 22 July 2020, police raided properties across Wigan Bolton and Salford, as well as properties in Doncaster, South Yorkshire and Caistor in Lincolnshire.

Multiple people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs and firearms offences.

Today, 10 people from across the region, including eight Wigan borough residents, have been charged with the following offences:

- Callum Morris (17/09/91) of Carr Bank Crescent, Atherton has been charged with conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug – cocaine, conspiracy to conceal / disguise / convert / transfer / remove criminal property.

- James Close (06/10/83) of Henry Street, Leigh has been charged with conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life/enable another to so, conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug – cocaine, conspiracy to conceal / disguise / convert / transfer / remove criminal property.

- Craig Makinson (21/08/74) of Springpool, Winstanley has been charged with conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life/enable another to do so, conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug – heroin, conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug – cocaine, conspiracy to supply a class B controlled drug – amphetamine, conspiracy to conceal / disguise / convert / transfer / remove criminal property.

- Andrew Ackers (22/05/86) of Benjamin Road, Wigan has been charged with conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug – cocaine, conspiracy to conceal / disguise / convert / transfer / remove criminal property.

- James Connor (12/04/80) of James Street, Atherton has been charged with conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug – cocaine, conspiracy to supply a class B controlled drug – amphetamine.

- John Moore (26/06/82) of Selwyn Street, Leigh has been charged with conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug – cocaine, conspiracy to conceal / disguise / convert / transfer / remove criminal property.

- John Westwood (16/06/82) of Carders Close, Leigh has been charged conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug, conspiracy to conceal / disguise / convert / transfer / remove criminal property.

- Scott Davies (15/09/88) of Bolton Road, Wigan has been charged with conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug – heroin, conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug – cocaine.

- Kyle Charlton (23/08/95) of Wildbrook Road, Little Hulton has been charged with conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug – cocaine, conspiracy to conceal / disguise / convert / transfer / remove criminal property.

- Jordan Edge (26/08/95) of Carrfield Avenue, Little Hulton has been charged with conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug – cocaine, conspiracy to conceal / disguise / convert / transfer / remove criminal property.

All have been remanded in custody and will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court this morning (Friday 24 July 2020).

The raids were led by officers from across GMP, who remained tight-lipped about what illegal items were recovered from the properties.

Superintendent Chris Bridge, of the force’s Wigan division, told the Wigan Post that the raids had put a huge dent in the footprint of criminal activity in the borough.

He said: “[The activity] was organised, it was sophisticated. And what comes with that is clearly the trappings of wealth that, no doubt, these individuals have amassed on the back of this activity.

“I have no doubt that the community of Wigan, Leigh and Greater Manchester, will have seen individuals that are engaged in this activity driving around in high value motors and living in plush houses.”

He added: “It is not right for people to amass finance in this way, on the back of our communities by targeting vulnerable people. The key message is that we will not tolerate this, we will take action when it is appropriate and proportional to do it.”

Supt Bridge went on: “The effect that this executive action will have, in terms of the number of arrests, hopefully will provide the community with a real confidence that we will take action and won’t tolerate drug supplying criminal activity, and we’ll deal with it appropriately.

“Clearly, the community have assisted us here. They have provided us with information with the confidence that we will act upon that.

“We are listening to the community, we are listening to councillors within these areas about the concerns they clearly get from their constituents about these criminals. Today is a clear example that we won’t accept it.”

In a further statement, Supt Bridge said: “It is in the interest of every right-thinking member of society to work alongside police to help us rid our streets of illegal drugs – removing criminal gangs’ access to illicit funds and therefore reducing the power they seek to exert.

“If police and the wider community continue to work together, we can eliminate illegal drugs from our streets and reduce the risk of vulnerable people being drawn into criminality.

“If you believe that drugs are being sold in your community, or believe a child or vulnerable adult to be at risk of criminal exploitation linked to drugs gangs, then please contact police immediately.”

Call police on 101 or anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.