EIGHT more people have been arrested in an ongoing police battle to rid the streets of Bury and Greater Manchester of drugs and organised crime.

Early morning raids saw police swoop in on suspected criminals as well as several kilos of controlled substances and thousands of pounds in cash.

Officers executed warrants across 14 addresses including properties in Bury, as well as Ashton, Heywood and Doncaster in South Yorkshire in the dawn hours of this morning.

Two women, aged 41 and 49, and six men, aged 19, 30, 31, 39, 52 and 59; were arrested in the action on suspicion of a number of drug supply related offences.

They all remain in custody for questioning, police have confirmed.

A stash of illegal drugs estimated to amount to several kilograms in weight alongside £20,000 in cash were also recovered in the raids.

Detective Inspector Lee Griffin, of Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Organised Crime Group, said: “The supply of illegal drugs blights communities and destroys people’s livelihoods; and I hope that today’s action demonstrates to the local community that we continue to do all we can to target those who profit from other’s vulnerabilities.”

“I would like to thank the teams here in Manchester and the South Yorkshire teams in Doncaster under Operation Fortify who have worked tirelessly in order to bring a sophisticated and audacious group of offenders to the attention of the criminal justice system,” he added.

One of numerous actions carried out already this year by GMP in their drugs crackdown, Wednesday’s raids were effected as part of Operation Heart ­— a huge investigation into the supply of Class A and B substances.

So far the operation has led to the recovery of over £2 million worth of drugs, over £300,000 in cash and an illegally held fire arm, DI Griffin said.

Dozens arrests have been made in 2019 during the crackdown, with Greater Manchester Police recovering large quantities of drugs, plus guns, ammunition and money.

Most recently, police made 17 arrests last month following raids on properties in Bury, Heywood, Salford, Manchester and Oldham.

These were made under Operation Ballerina, another action against Class A drugs.

A large quantity of cannabis with an estimated value of £80,000 was recovered and two people were arrested after a warrant was executed in Radcliffe in June.

Officers had been able to obtain the warrant and carry out the raid after receiving a tip off from a member of the public.

Police are now urging people to follow this example and support them in their efforts to tackle drug crime by sharing any concerns and information.

DI griffin said: “We cannot do this alone and I would appeal directly to the community and those most affected to please come forward with any information that could assist us tackle those engaged in serious and organised crimes.”

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