A BOLTON man has been arrested in raids organised to stop a country-wide drugs gang.

The 21-year-old man was arrested shortly after 7am yesterday on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering.

Police have not revealed where in Bolton the man was arrested.

He was one of six people arrested after 100 officers from five police forces — including Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire Dorset, Hampshire and Devon and Cornwall — staged a joint operation.

Hampshire Constabulary is leading on the operation and those arrested will be taken down to be questioned and dealt with in Hampshire.

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, operating from their homes in Greater Manchester.

A small quantity of drugs was recovered.

Chief Supt Russ Jackson, of the Hampshire force, said: “The raids are part of an 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.

“This operation has been planned to cause as much disruption to this activity as possible.

“While the raids are now finished, 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.”

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