TEN people have appeared in court following drugs raids in Greater Manchester and Staffordshire.

Eight men and three women were arrested as officers searched nine addresses across Manchester, Oldham, Salford and Staffordshire at dawn yesterday.

They were kept in custody for questioning and, this morning, eight men and a woman appeared before Manchester magistrates charged with conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B controlled drugs.

They are: Steven N’Goue, aged 24, of Heathbank Road, Blackley; Liam McGuire, aged 27, Connor McGuire, aged 19 and Joanne Davies, 48, all of Hardman Lane, Failsworth; Hayden Samuels, aged 21, of Ryebank Road, Stretford; Tyrone Carter-Spence, aged 21, of Greatstone Road, Stretford; Laura Demi Mullings, aged 18, of City Road, Hulme; Sean Watson, aged 29, of Boscombe Court, Stafford; John Diaczuk, aged 65, of Stockport Road, Levenshulme.

Angela McLeavy, aged 47, of Hardman Lane, Failsworth has been charged with production of cannabis.

The raids were part of a drugs crackdown code-named Operation Friction, led by the Serious and Organised Crime Group, targetting crime networks supplying drugs across the UK.

Speaking following the arrests, Det Insp Tony Norman of Greater Manchester Police's Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: “This investigation wouldn’t be successful without the help and support of local communities.

“We will never tolerate drugs on our streets and we will do everything we can to stamp it out.

“If you suspect drug dealing in your area please report it to police immediately.”

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