CLASS A drugs, tens of thousands of illicit cigarettes, thousands of pounds worth of illicit rolling tobacco, counterfeit goods and immigration issues were found as police and council officers cracked down across Tameside.
Officers from several agencies launched another co-ordinated Operation AVRO day of action on Thursday, November 9.
And the results exposed criminal dealings in the borough, with a total of 29 arrests.
A cannabis farm was discovered in an early morning raid at Lumn Road in Hyde, while 48 bags of heroin and 35 of cocaine were seized by Greater Manchester Police’s organised crime team in Ashton-under-Lyne.
A spokesman said: “This is a significant blow to the drug trafficking network in the area and a great achievement for our officers.”
On the Hyde drug farm, they added: “This is a significant blow to the criminals behind this operation, and we will continue to pursue them and bring them to justice.
“We thank the public for their support as we continue to take the fight to the criminals to fight, prevent and reduce crime.”
In Audenshaw, two suspects were arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, failure to appear at court and possession of suspected counterfeit goods.
Partnership work with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency resulted in 101 traffic offences being committed – including 72 speeding offences and five seized vehicles, with two people arrested – as traffic enforcement took place in Droylsden and Haughton Green.
And council teams also scored successes as nine premises were visited by trading standards officers and nine seizures made.
In all, 35,660 illicit cigarette sticks, with a street value £23,179 and a tax evasion value of £17,687.36, were found as they were assisted by GMP and Wagtails UK.
A huge 8.95kg of illicit Hand Rolling tobacco, with a street value of £,5012 – a tax evasion value of £4763.30 – was also discovered.
And 1,398 illegal vapes, worth £15,378, were taken. Three of the visits also raised Immigration issues.
Tameside Council’s licensing team carried out taxi and private hire checks – all were found to be compliant.
Its community safety team ran information stands in Ashton Market Hall and Clarendon Shopping Centre in Hyde.
Superintendent Mike Walsh, of Greater Manchester Police’s Tameside Division, believed the community can also play a big part, despite Operation AVRO’s successes.
He said: “It’s a lot more than raiding homes, that’s the enforcement bit, which is really important, but a big part of policing is community engagement.
“People can find things out but also, it’s an opportunity to tell us more. What are you concerned about, have we got things right, have we missed something?
“Our communities expect the very best. Tell us things and we’ll act on them.
“This AVRO was a significant blow to the criminals behind this operation and we will continue to pursue them and bring them to justice.
“I would like to thank the public for their support as we continue to take the fight to the criminals to fight, prevent and reduce crime.”