A cannabis farm that’s believed to be worth more than £1 million has been seized during early-morning raids this week.
After gathering intel on a number of properties in the Oldham area, police obtained warrants at two addresses in the Greater Manchester town this week, and executed raids that lead to nearly 800 cannabis plants being seized.
A whopping 772 cannabis plants were discovered and seized by officers who first raided an address on Collett Street in the Derker area yesterday (18 October), according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), before the team conducted a second warrant on at an address on Quail Street earlier today.
At the first property, two men aged in their 30s were arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis, GMP has confirmed, then, at the second property, one male was detained inside the house on suspicion of the cultivation of cannabis.
These latest seizures brings the total street value of cannabis farms seized by the Oldham team in the past four weeks to over £4 million.
Police in Oldham have seized a cannabis farm with nearly 800 plants worth more than £1 million / Credit: GMP
“Our work in the past month alone is testament to how well our officers are doing at rooting out this issue,” Chief Superintendent Phil Hutchinson from GMP’s Oldham District explained as he spoke on the seizures week.
“This is not a victimless crime.
“There is a web of organised criminality behind these recent seizures, but thanks to the community, we were able to conduct this warrant today, which led to a huge discovery.”
GMP continues to urge the local Greater Manchester community to report any information and concerns they may have in relation to cannabis cultivation.
Calling on the public for their help, Neighbourhood Sergeant Lucy Leicester added: “We will continue to act on your intelligence and the information members of the public share with us is vital in our teams taking actions such as this.
“Information from the public plays an incredibly important role in these warrants time and time again, so please let us know if you have any concerns about drug activity in your local area.”
#ARRESTS | Chief Inspector Phil Hutchinson and his team in Oldham uncovered a cannabis farm believed to be worth more than £1million this morning.
Two men aged in their 30s were arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis.
GMP has also shared some information on how to spot potential cannabis farms.
If you’re curious to know whether a property near you is being used to cultivate the drug, then look out for a powerful distinctive sweet, sickly aroma, frequent visitors throughout the day and night, blacked-out windows, chinks of bright light throughout the night, birds gathering on the roof, particularly in cold weather, noise from fans, large amounts of rubbish including compost bags, and the electricity metre being tampered with.
“Individually, these activities may seem commonplace,” Sergeant Leicester said, “however, together they may indicate something more suspicious.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Urgent appeal after woman, 70, dies after being found unconscious with ‘serious injuries’ on a Tameside road
Emily Sergeant
An urgent appeal has been issued after a woman was found unconscious with ‘serious injuries’ on a road on the Tameside / Oldham border.
Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Serious Collision Investigation Unit is appealing for information after the woman, aged 70, was taken to hospital upon being discovered on Waggon Road in Park Bridge, which is an area on the border of Tameside and Oldham, at around 2:30pm this past Sunday afternoon (10 August).
Police say their investigation is centred on trying to find out how the woman came to be on the road, and ultimately, uncover more about the incident as a whole.
This is why officers are now appealing to the Greater Manchester public.
#APPEAL | Our Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) is appealing for information after a woman died after being found unconscious on a road on the Oldham/Tameside border yesterday (10/08/25). pic.twitter.com/lzjANgh8Tg
Anyone who saw the incident, or who may have dashcam footage, is urged to call GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741, quoting incident number 1858 of 10/08/25.
You can also call 101, or talk to GMP via the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk.
Any reports or concerns about the incident can also be made anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Google Maps
News
Manchester Youth Zone reopens following impressive £1.6m transformation
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Youth Zone has officially relaunched following a significant £1.6 million investment and months of transformation.
Designed hand-in-hand with the young people of Harpurhey, where the centre – which is proudly a member of the OnSide Youth Zones – is based, the revitalised space represents a bold new chapter for Manchester Youth Zone (MYZ) and the new state-of-the-art facilites offer an exciting range of opportunities and experiences for young people to enjoy.
MYZ is open all year round to provide a ‘safe space’ for young people across North Manchester aged eight to 19, or up to 25 with additional needs.
Football, basketball, podcasting, music, cooking, boxing, dance, and dedicated wellbeing spaces are just some of the activities on offer for young people now that the refurbishment is complete.
The refurbishment is a major milestone for MYZ and its renewed mission to help young people discover their ‘purpose, passion, and pathway’ in life.
Manchester Youth Zone has reopened following an impressive £1.6m transformation / Credit: Supplied
This means that the newly-refurbished centre also offers space and facilities for meaningful support – with one-to-one navigators and youth workers working closely with the children and families to help ‘break down barriers’ and ‘unlock potential’.
MYZ is one of 140 youth centres in England to benefit from a Youth Investment Fund grant, announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The Youth Investment Fund was granted to MYZ as part of the Government’s National Youth Guarantee to ‘transform and level up’ opportunities for young people in England.
“We’re delighted to unveil our newly transformed Manchester Youth Zone,” commented Heather Etheridge, who CEO of Manchester Youth Zone.
“It’s a significant milestone for MYZ and we’re extremely proud of the new space and what it has to offer the young people of Harpurhey.
“From its state-of-the-art facilities to dedicated wellbeing spaces we are a shining example of how investment, vision, and youth-led design can create lasting impact, and how truly transformational spaces can change lives.
Emily Sergeant -
19th October 2023 
