A MAN from Leigh is among seven people charged with conspiracy to supply drugs.

James Close, aged 30 of Cloister Avenue in Leigh, was arrested following a number of raids in the Salford, Bolton, Bury, Wigan areas and an address in Skelmersdale yesterday morning.

Close has been charged with conspiring to supply Class A and B drugs along with Christopher Zammitt, aged 30 from Skelmersdale, Michael Carroll, aged 32 from Wigan, Russell Dunn, aged 26 from Swinton, Carl Rogers, aged 38 from Wigan, Anthony Smith, aged 32 currently of HMP Manchester and Abia Din, aged 38 currently of HMP Style.

All are due to appear before Manchester Magistrates Court today, Thursday.

Officers from Project Gulf, Salford’s multi-agency task force, executed warrants at 18 addresses and seized £32,000 in cash, watches believed to be worth over £20,000, a diamond encrusted ring and an expensive pedal bike at around 6.15am on Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Mary Doyle, Salford Divisional Commander, said "This coordinated strike is the end product of weeks of intelligence gathering by police officers in an effort to smash organised crime across the local and Greater Manchester area.

"Organised criminality causes misery for ordinary people going about their lawful business. It causes fear and intimidation, and we are determined to work together to target those who indulge in such criminality.

“This action should serve as a reminder that we will continue to use all available resources to target them and put an end to their empires. Our local communities have quite rightly had enough, and it is important that they feel able to give us information in confidence that we can use to continue our fight against this scourge.

"I would urge anyone who believes they have information about those involved in organised crime to contact police. As always, the information you supply will be dealt with privately and confidentially."

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.