Twenty-five people have been arrested and thousands of pounds worth of cocaine, heroin, cannabis and cash seized in a major police crackdown on drugs in Macclesfield.

Operation Dizi was launched by Cheshire Police last month in a bid to tackle the supply of Class A drugs in the town.

In the operation’s most recent raid alone, last week, £2,500 worth of cannabis bush, £2,000 cash, and 500 Viagra pills were seized from a single address on the Moss Estate.

It was the single largest seizure of processed cannabis in Macclesfield for two years.

Operation Dizi was launched on June 1 in direct response to information about drug dealing provided by members of the community.

Its success so far includes:

  • Seizure of almost 500 individual wraps of Class A drugs

  • Eleven people due to appear in court on drug charges in the next month

  • Four vehicles and more than £2,000 in cash being seized in connection with the suspected transportation of drugs.

Sergeant Andy Burden, who is in charge of Operation Dizi, told the Express that public involvement had been the catalyst for the investigation.

He said: “We have arrested an unprecedented number of people in such a short time. We’ve been getting numerous reports about suspected drug dealing.

“This operation enables us to react to the information much better than before.

He added: “This behaviour has a huge negative impact on the community. It causes absolute misery. It’s happening in churches, parks and schools where there is no CCTV.”

The most recent drugs raid last Wednesday (July 3) was orchestrated as part of a Cheshire-wide day of action.

Sgt Burden said: “I’d like to stress this is ongoing. We’ve only just scratched the surface.

“Most of the information we have is provided by members of the public or from our officers.

“This is an ongoing operation. The problem has come to us in Macclesfield because there is a market for it.” Anyone suspecting such activity is encouraged to contact Cheshire Police via 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Eleven men and women are currently facing drug-related charges as a result of Operation Dizi, including six from Macclesfield:

  • Troy Elexis Louis, 49, of Frith Terrace, The Moss, Macclesfield. Charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis.

  • Steven Day, 40, of Hobson Street, Macclesfield. Charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.

  • Geoffrey Pownall, 66, of Paladin Place, Hurdsfield. Charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.

  • Lindsay Sharon Hughes, 31, of Berwick Close, Upton Priory. Charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.

  • Robbie Cremor, 44, of Maplewood, Macclesfield. Charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis.

  • Nicholas Norman Williamson, 51, of Stamford Road, Macclesfield. Charged with cultivation of Cannabis.

  • Anthony Alfred Butterworth, 35, of Miles Close, Birchwood, Warrington. Charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.

  • Tom Duala, 19, of Livingstone Court, Liverpool. Charged with possession of a Class B drug and an offensive weapon.

  • Sean Patrick Massey, 29, of Clegge Street, Warrington. Charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.

  • Anthony Austin, 23, of Grant Close, Norris Green, Liverpool. Charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.

  • Mucktaar Farahani, 24, of Southern Crescent, Toxteth, Liverpool. Charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.