TEN men have been charged after police carried out raids at locations across the north of England, including in Wigan.

On Thursday morning (February 8) warrants were executed across Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and County Durham as part of a NWROCU investigation into a conspiracy to produce cannabis.

Officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, Greater Manchester Police, and Merseyside Police searched 14 properties in Wigan, Huyton, Rainhill, Broad Green, and Stockton on Tees and officers seized cash, criminal property, vehicles, plant machinery, and other luxury items. 

Five men from Wigan, four men from Huyton, and a man from Stockton on Tees were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to produce a controlled drug (namely cannabis). 

Another man from Broad Green was arrested on suspicion of assisting an organised crime group and theft by employee.

Ten men have since been charged with conspiracy to produce a controlled drug, namely:

  • Ross McGinn, 33 of Midway Road Huyton
  • Andrew Roberts, 42 of Bell Lane, Wigan
  • Graham Roberts, 46 of Ryton Close, Wigan
  • Michael Ashurst, 33 of no fixed abode
  • Lewin Charles, 31 of Stanhope Drive, Huyton
  • Greg Black, 27 of Brockwood Road, Huyton
  • Aiden Doran, 27 of Ormskirk Road, Wigan
  • Jack Sherry, 23 of Keats Avenue, Wigan
  • Kevin Black, 55 of Brockwood Road, Huyton.
  • Luke Whenary, 32 of Ingleby Grove, Stockton on Tees


Another man, Colin White, age 61 of Warnerville Road, Liverpool was charged with assisting an organised crime group and theft by employee. 

They have all been remanded in custody and were due to appear at Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens Magistrates' Court on Friday morning (February 9).