Drug raids in Blackpool lead to 33 people being charged

Wednesday, 14 October 2026 13:54

By Central Radio News

Police have charged 33 people and seized significant quantities of drugs, cash and weapons as part of a major operation in Blackpool.

Officers from the Serious Organised Crime Unit carried out an eight-month covert investigation as part of Op Warrior which uncovered the high-level importation of drugs into the UK and Lancashire market from a criminal network operating in the Middle East and Asia.

Seventeen people were intercepted with a total of 171kg of cocaine and 297kg of cannabis, with a wholesale value of £6.6 million recovered.

As a result of the operation, officers carried out a number of warrants across Blackpool across September and October 2026. This has resulted in:

36 arrests made
33 people charged and remanded for conspiracy to supply controlled drugs
Seizures of cocaine, cannabis and amphetamine
Over £100,000 in cash recovered
Various designer items, seven Rolex watches, gold bars and two vehicles seized
Weapons including two machetes, various knuckle dusters, tasers and knives seized

Det Insp Steve Montgomery, of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “The supply and use of drugs brings criminality and misery to our communities.

“Lancashire Police are committed to disrupting the supply of drugs in the county and will robustly investigate those involved.”

Operation Warrior is Lancashire Police's response to tackling serious and organised crime in Lancashire, which is backed by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.

If you have any concerns or information, you can report this directly to Lancashire Police by calling 101 or via their website https://www.lancashire.police.uk/ro/report/ Always call 999 in an emergency.

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