Six people have been arrested as part of an ongoing operation targeting Class A drug supply and child criminal exploitation in Accrington.
As part of Op Sark arrests have been made at various addresses in Lancashire and one in Cumbria over the past two days.
Searches have also resulted in the seizure of machetes, cannabis and mobile phones suspected of being linked to an organised crime group.
Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service a total of four people have now been charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine between November 2018 and May 2019 and appeared at Blackburn Magistrates Court this morning.
They are Michael Hall 32, of Clement Street, Accrington; Junaid Khan, 20, of Ormerod Street, Accrington; Marban Hussain, 53, of Jannat Close, Accrington, and Iftikhar Asghar, of Lincoln Street, Wakefield.
A further two people remain in custody having been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. They are a 38-year-old man from Accrington, and a 21-year-old man from Cumbria.
Sixteen people have previously been charged as part of the operation.
Martin Kennedy, from East Division, said: “Organised crime, including the supply of drugs, blights our communities and puts ordinary law-abiding people at risk. We remain committed to taking drugs off our streets and pursing those suspected to be involved in illegal activity.
“I would urge our communities to work with us on identifying those responsible for this type of activity so that we can continue to keep our communities safe. Intelligence from members of the public is key in operations like this and I would appeal to anyone who has information that could assist, to get in touch.”
Anyone who suspects drugs being dealt in their area can contact police on 101. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
