A BOLTON man has been arrested as part of a national police investigation into drug dealing.

The 21-year-old was picked up by officers at an address in the town, along with five other people across the country.

He was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering.

Police from Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Dorset, South Yorkshire and Devon and Cornwall have joined forces to unravel a co-ordinated drug cell distributing drugs to the streets of Hampshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

Shortly after 7am today 100 officers from the five forces involved in the operation visited the address in Bolton, as well as others in Manchester along with other addresses in Sheffield, Southampton and Plymouth.

A 19-year-old man was arrested in Blackley on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering.

A woman was also arrested in Blackley on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance.

Another man and two women were also arrested following raids at addresses in South Yorkshire, Bournemouth and Southampton.

A small quantity of drugs were recovered.

Arrests were made as part of a nationwide operation targeting members of an organised drug gang believed to be key players in setting up and co-ordinating drug cells in Hampshire and across the south west region, from their homes in Manchester.

Hampshire Constabulary is leading on the operation and those arrested as part of this morning’s operation will be taken down to be questioned and dealt with in Hampshire.

Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson said: "Today’s raids are part of an ongoing operation to target an organised Crime group who spend their time moving up and down the country setting up drug cells to deal large amounts of class A drugs on the streets. This operation has been carefully planned to cause as much disruption to this activity as possible.

"While the raids are now finished for today the work that has been carried out with our colleagues in other forces will continue as we clamp down on those who think they can evade the law.

“Criminals have no place to hide – we will find you no matter where in the country you commit crime.

“We will continue to listen to and support our local residents and will aim to keep people informed of the work we are doing where they live. Members of the community can also contact their neighbourhood policing teams by phone, email or by arranging to visit their local officers."

Anyone with information on the sale or use of drugs in their community should call their local neighbourhood policing team or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.