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The early-morning briefing.
This morning, Friday 25 October, saw raids on homes of suspected drug dealers as part of Challenger.
Agencies across Greater Manchester have joined forces to declare war on organised criminal gangs across the region.
This week has seen the launch of Challenger, the largest ever multi-agency response to tackling organised criminal gangs (OCGS) in Manchester's history.
Over the past five days, more than 100 warrants have been carried out by numerous agencies to root out the drug dealers, loan sharks, rogue landlords and counterfeit good suppliers who are the lynchpins of these criminal networks.
The aim of Challenger is to identify every single organised crime group in existence and use all the weapons available to agencies across both Manchester and the UK to disrupt, dismantle and destroy these gangs.
This week alone, more than 50 suspected members of criminal gangs have been arrested for a variety of offences including drugs, firearms and money laundering.
More than £330,000 worth of drugs were recovered, £25,000 in cash seized along with weapons such as high-powered air rifles, a BB gun, a Taser and a baton. Seven high powered cars were also seized.
Up to 50 tonnes worth of counterfeit goods - worth at least £2m - including fake trainers, watches and clothing, were also seized from three properties in the Strangeways area, all of which were stocked to the brim across several different floors with fake goods.
Detective Chief Superintendent Rebekah Sutcliffe, who heads Challenger for Greater Manchester Police, said: "Organised crime groups have a corrosive and insidious effect on our communities. These sorts of people mistakenly believe they 'own their turf' and use violence and intimidation to make people's lives a misery.
"However, this week we have brought the fight to these gangs and through Challenger we are now declaring war on these criminal networks who for too long have been bullying communities and enjoying a lavish lifestyle.
"Challenger is not about cutting off the head of a monster - it is about systematically dismantling these gangs member by member and making it impossible for them to operate. To do that, we need to get into the ribs of these people and hit them where it hurts.
"By working in partnership with so many other agencies, we can attack these gangs from every angle. We can expose benefit scams and leave these people penniless; we can seize their flash motors which are often not insured or taxed; we can shut down nail bars, takeaways and pubs where organised criminals often launder their dirty cash and we stop loan sharks from bullying victims into taking out exorbitant loans which fund their criminality.
"Through this partnership approach, Challenger will unmask every single organised crime group in Manchester and use every available tool to bring them crashing down."
There are currently more than 160 known organised criminal gangs in Greater Manchester, costing the local economy between 850m and 1.7bn each year.
However, it is thought they may be up to 500 of these networks in operation.
Thanks to Challenger, a central taskforce has been set up which will gather intelligence and build up an accurate picture of every single criminal gang in Manchester.
The taskforce will then work with partners from the local community, including neighbourhood policing teams, local authorities, Immigration Enforcement, the England Illegal Money Lending Team, housing providers, the Department for Work and Pensions, the DVLA, HMRC and other agencies to draw up bespoke plans for how best to dismantle these gangs.
In addition to this important local approach, Challenger is also being supported by the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Officers from these national agencies are providing regular support and expertise about how best to tackle organised criminality.
But central to the success of Challenger will be the support of the local community and people coming forward with information about criminality in their area.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sutcliffe said: "There may be a misconception among people that organised criminality is all about drugs and guns and that it does not affect their lives. They could not be more wrong.
"Organised criminality is not just about firearms and drug dealing - it is happening on people's doorsteps every day without them realising it.
"The way these gangs fund their criminal empires is through the sale of counterfeit goods, loan sharking, electricity, housing and benefit scams, human trafficking and rogue landlords.
"If you suspect any of this is happening in your community, you need to report it because the endgame of these sorts of offences are the brutal shootings we saw last year that resulted in innocent people being killed.
"But, with your help, we can break this chain. If you don't buy counterfeit goods or turn to loan sharks you are cutting off the funds for these criminals to buy guns and drugs. If you report housing scams you will be making it impossible for these gangs to have bases from which to operate. If you report someone who is driving around in a flash motor you know is not insured, you will be stopping these cars from being used as getaway vehicle during serious crime.
"This is a war we can win with the public's help. We can give communities back to law-abiding people. If you help us to identify the foundations these empires are built on, we will bring them crashing down. And if you wish to report anything anonymously, you can do so by contacting Crimestoppers."
National Crime Agency regional head of investigations, Steve Baldwin, said: "Organised crime deprives people of their security and prosperity, leads to loss of life and costs the UK well over £20billion each year. It directly affects all of our communities. The NCA's role is to lead the UK's fight against organised crime. But to do that we need to work closely with our law enforcement partners like Greater Manchester Police, as we have done in supporting this operation. Together we will use every technique available to relentlessly and continuously disrupt serious organised criminals and make their lives as difficult as possible."
Jim Battle, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner said: "These so-called 'Mr Bigs' think they can control our communities with a grip of fear. But the action taken by police, local councils and other agencies this week sends a clear message to these abhorrent individuals that there is no place for you in our communities - you will be hunted down and you will be brought to justice.
"The fight is ongoing and we can only keep up the pressure on these criminal gangs with the support of our communities across Greater Manchester. I thank the decent, law-abiding people for their continued help and urge you all to stand with us so together we can bring down these criminals and build safer communities."
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
Raids were carried out this morning, Tuesday 16 March 2021, at 18 addresses in Wigan.
The raids were led by officers from GMP's Wigan district, Specialist Operations, Serious and Organised Crime Group and Challenger Teams from across the force.
Superintendent Mark Kenny of GMP’s Wigan District said: “GMP is committed to clamping down on drugs and the hugely detrimental impact they have on our communities. Today's operation highlights that, and means that individuals who have blighted their community have been arrested.
"Illegal drugs and, the organised criminal gangs who seek to control their supply, have a corrosive effect on our communities and attract further criminality to the areas they operate. Today's operation follows a long and complex investigation which will continue over the coming days.
"I would ask that if anyone has concerns about drug dealing or crime where they live, that they report it to us on 101 or 999 if it’s an emergency, or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also give us information via LiveChat on our website at www.gmp.police.uk.”
Amsterdam (NL) > Göteborg (N) > Jokkmokk (S) > Narvik (N) > Sortland > Tromsø > Alta > Levi (FIN) > Posio > Rovaniemi > Helsinki > Amsterdam (NL), 02.2022
06/12/2021. Liverpool, United Kingdom. Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends a Police Raid. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends a police briefing before going on a police drugs raid by Merseyside police in Liverpool. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street
0 km 0 m Départ Cap Méchant 0h. Départ du Grand Raid du terrain de football, aux Flambeaux et Percussions à 0h00 le vendredi. Pointage électronique. Prendre la direction RN 2 et 2 km 800 après le départ, prendre sur votre gauche la route Chemin Ceinture. Chemin hors GR
Parcours routier (A) P.148
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4406 RT
2,9km 19 m Chemin Ceinture Vous prenez ensuite sur votre gauche à la prochaine intersection du panneau indiquant : RF de Mare Longue – Sentier Botanique – Ravitaillement Kiosque Mare Longue Route forestière (A) P.152
IGN 4406
RT
15,9km 685 m RF Mare Longue
Camphriers
Continuez sur la Route Forestière qui laisse place au bout de 11 km à ce petit sentier, vous passez alors devant un kiosque Basse Vallée.
Vous rejoignez le GR qui monte vers le Volcan – Ravitaillement Marathon Route forestière (A) P.149
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4406 RT
21,0km 2084 m Piton Rick
Puy Ramond
Ce sentier rejoint la variante GR R2 sentier de Puy Ramond , Tremblet à droite de la crête de l’enclos du Volcan, au Piton Bois vert..
Prendre à gauche avec le GR R2 variante en longenat successivement Piton Hubert, Piton Rouge et caverne du Chisny GR R2
Sentier à découvert (A) P.148
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4406 RT
23,7km 2350 m Foc-Foc Crête de l’enclos Poste de contrôle. Ravitaillement type Marathon
30,9km 2320 m Route du Volcan Pour atteindre le poste du Volcan, suivre le chemin balisé. Ravitaillement avec sandwichs et boissons chaudes + Ravitaillement Marathon. Pointage électronique. Hors GR (A) P.128
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4406 RT
36,1km 2267 m Pieds Remparts des Basaltes Suivre le GR à travers le magnifique paysage de la Plaine des Sables. GR R2
37,0km 2400 m Oratoire Sainte-Thérèse De l’Oratoire Sainte-Thérèse (point culminant de la course) le sentier redescend vers le Piton Textor (Antennes) en coupant plusieurs fois la Route Forestière.
40,1km 2165 m Piton Textor Ce sentier bifurque à droite tout de suite après le point de vue et rejoint le sentier GR R2 qui descend à gauche vers le Piton Textor. Ravitaillement Marathon GR R2
Sentier sec à découvert (A) P.128
IGN
4406 RT
DU PITON TEXTOR A CILAOS
45,4km 1684 m Chalet des Pâtres A partir du Piton Textor, vous suivez exclusivement le GR R2 jusqu’au Piton Tortue. GR R (A) P.126
IGN
4405 RT
50,4km 1594 m Mare à Boue
Plaines des Cafres
Après avoir dépassé le Chalet des Pâtres, vous rejoignez la RN 3 que vous longez sur 300 m à droite, en direction de la Plaine des Palmistes, avant de reprendre à gauche la route bétonnée qui monte en direction du Piton des Neiges.
A environ 2 km, la route fait un coude marqué vers la gauche (Intersection).
Vous prenez alors le chemin qui continue tout droit et rejoint en 100 m le point d’assistance. Poste de ravitaillement. Repos complet, Poulet grillé. Pointage électronique. GR R2 (A) P.122
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4405 RT
56,1km 2017 m Coteau Maigre
Le sentier monte tout régulièrement jusqu’au passage des échelles du Coteau Maigre, puis plonge rapidement par 6 échelles métalliques de 5 à 8 barreaux vers la forêt Duvernay.
Assurez bien vos appuis malgré la fatigue.
A l’embranchement de la Variante IV du GR R2, montez à gauche en direction du Bivouac du Kerveguen avec Pointage électronique. GR R2 (A) P.117 puis 116
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4405 RT
59,5km
62 km
62,6km 2206 m
2484 m
1387 m Refuge du Kerveguen
Caverne Dufour (Gite Piton des Neiges)
Le Bloc
Après le bivouac (type Marathon, soupe, boissons chaudes), quittez le sentier à droite vers le Piton des Neiges. Parvenu à la heuteur du Gîte du Piton des Neiges au lieu dit « La Caverne Dufour », plongez à gauche vers le Ciloas via La Bloc.
Attention : Cette descente reste périlleuse compte tenu de la fatigue accumulée. Restez vigilants. Point d’eau naturel à la mi descente. Vous atteignez la RD 241 au Bloc. Ravitaillement type Marathon. GR R2
RD 241 (A) P.106
IGN
4405 RT
(A) P.106
69,2km 1224 m Cilaos
Prendre la RD 241 à droite en direction de Cilaos. Suivez bien les indications en ville. Vous arriverez au Stade de Cilaos.
Pour la mi course, on vous fait la totale.
Toubibs, Kinés, Carri poulet, ou petit déjeuner, Dortoirs. Pointage électronique à l’arrivée et au départt.. RD 241
(A) P.106
IGN
4405 RT
DE CILAOS A DEUX BRAS (Rivière des Galets)
69,2km 1224 m Cilaos
Traverser la ville de Cilaos pour rejoindre le sentier Porteurs ; à droite devant l’office de tourisme, puis à gauche entre la crêperie et le restaurant, pour rejoindre le GR ancien Thermes.
Prendre le GR R2 Sentier des Porteurs
RD 242/ GR R2 (A) P.40
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4405 RT
4402 RT
74,6km 920 m GR R2
Ancien thermes Bras Rouge EEn descendant se sentier, 50 m après retrouvez le Départ du GR R2 sur votre gauche, passant près des anciens Thermes, Source Piment, Cascade Bras Rouge, Bassin Foucquet, laissez sur votre côté droit le GR R1.
La montée est raide.
Vous retrouverez ainsi le départ du sentier du Taïbit, Route Ilet à Cordes
GR R2 (A) P.106
IGN
4405 RT
4402 RT
76,3km 1260 m Départ Sentier Taïbit
Pointage électronique (uniquement Grand Raid). Le sentier reprend de l’autre côté de la route, légèrement décalé à gauche.
L’ascension, raide, est ponctuée de deux replats avant d’atteindre le Col du Taibit. GR R1 (A) P.40
IGN
4405 RT
4402 RT
80,3km 2080 m Col du Taïbit Après le Col, on amorce la descente parmi les acacias vers Marla au carrefour en « » situé au bas GR R1
Sentier ombragé (A) P.122
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4405 RT
4402 RT
82,5km 1580 m Marla Le pointage électronique se fait à l’ancienne école, située un peu à l’écart du sentier sur la droite. Possibilité limitée de repos. Ce pointage effectué, on reprend le GR R2 sur votre gauche pour poursuivre en direction de Trois Roches. Vous redescendez vers la Rivière des Galets. Il n’y a plus de sentiers et vous cheminez sur les blocs à la recherche du meilleur itinéraire et vous arrivez enfin à la Rivière suivre en rive droite sur 1 km pour atteindre le Poste de Trois Roches. GR R1 (A) P.40
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4402 RT
85,5km 1220 m Trois-Roches Après la traversée de la Rivière des Galets, prenez à droite le GR2 qui s’élève parmi les filaos. S’enchaînent alors plusieurs montées et descentes au gré des ravines en direction de Roche-Plate.. GR R2 P.101
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4402 RT
90,6km 1100 m Birurcation-Mafate /Roche-Plate Avant d’arriver à l’îlet de Roche-Plate , vous croiserez à droite le sentier qui va vers Mafate (dans un bois de filaos) .Ne vous y engagez pas ! Prenez à gauche l’allée de filaos qui vous conduit directement à l’école de Roche-Plate. Après le pointage électronique à l’école de Roche Plate, revenez sur vos pas sur 100m et prenez les escaliers qui vous amènent à une passerelle sur votre gauche, direction Roche plate les Hauts, le Bronchard. Après avoir traversé le sentier de Roche Plate, laissez les sentiers sur votre gauche menant à L’Ilet à Cordes et au cimetière. La montée se poursuit, droit devant vous, sur 200m jusqu’au début du col du Bronchard (Grande croix blanche). GR R2 P.97/101
IGN
4401 RT
4402 RT
92,2 km 1291m Intersection du début du Col Bronchard Prenez ensuite, sur votre droite le sentier qui vous amène à Fond Mafate – la Nouvelle. Traversez une zone sèche. la 2ème partie du parcours est plus abrupte - prenez les mains courantes ! Après cette descente « délicate », il faut franchir la rivière et remonter sur 100m à droite les énormes blocs de rochers. Continuez jusqu’à une échelle, sur votre gauche, qui vous permet de sortir de la rivière, après cette brève remontée, rejoignez La Nouvelle (GR aérien prenez les mains courantes). GR R2 P.101 IGN 4402 RT
97,6 kms 1440m
La Nouvelle
Après le pointage électronique à l’école reprenez le sentier qui repart entre les deux gîtes. Prenez le GR, direction Col de Fourches, avant de déboucher sur la vaste Plaine des Tamarins. Au bout de 3 km, vous rencontrez sur la droite le sentier venant de Marla. C’est la jonction avec le parcours du Semi Raid. GR R2 P.99/101 IGN 4404RT
100,6 km 1760m Plaine des Tamarins
Continuez tout droit, le GR entame aussitôt une ascension sur 0.7km, estimez 20 minutes jusqu’à l’intersection Col de Fourches-Col des Bœufs. Prendre tous droit la direction du col des Fourches GR R2 P.99 IGN 4402RT
101,9 103,4 km 1942m
1830m Col de Fourches
Plaine des Merles Après un court raidillon, pour atteindre la crête, faites très attention : passage difficile et glissant au bord du vide. Vous entamez une descente. Vous croisez sur votre droite un sentier à ne pas prendre. Continuez tout droit. le sentier vous amène sur la route forestière de la Plaine des Merles. Traversez la route forestière. le GR reprend de l‘autre coté de la route par une descente assez facile qui permet de rejoindre un large chemin débouchant sur la route forestière. ( Bord Martin). GR R2 P.98/101 IGN 4404RT
105,7 km 1820m Route forestière Haut Mafate
Reprendre à gauche la route forestière sur 100m. Pointez au ravitaillement du kiosque du sentier Scout. GR R2 IGN 4402RT
105,8 km 1830m Sentier Scout .Pointage électronique. Engagez vous sur le sentier Scout. Vous traverserez plusieurs ravines dont la ravine Bémale (attention roches glissantes). Puis vous vous engagerez sur une remontée plutôt raide (prenez les mains courantes). Vous arriverez sur le plateau de la Salle ou se trouve une intersection. Continuez tout droit en direction du lieu dit la Plaque. GR R2 IGN 4402RT
112,6 km 900m La Plaque Prendre le sentier à droite en direction d’Ilet à Malheur. Après avoir traversé l’Ilet à Malheur continuer vers le Bras Bémale. Une passerelle surplombe la ravine à 50m au dessus du vide ; Après l’avoir traversée, une courte montée vous permet d’atteindre dans le premier tiers du raidillon une bifurcation . laissez le sentier de gauche (rivière des Galets), bifurquez à droite en direction d’Aurère, afin de retrouver en quelquess minutes un autre panneau indiquant « rapide ». il vous reste environ un quart heure d’effort avant d’arriver à l’école d’Aurère. Pointage électronique.. GR R2 IGN 4402RT
113,1 km
121,4 km
930m
955m
270m Aurère
Bord Bazar
Source Cabris
La Porte Le chemin démarre face au Piton Cabris et se poursuit vers Bord Bazar puis redescend. Laissez sur votre gauche le sentier vers Ilet à Malheur. Suivre la Crète d’ Aurère où s’engage ensuite une longue descente jusqu'à la Rivière des Galets. Vous rencontrez un premier embranchement que vous laissez sur votre gauche. Bifurquez à droite et descendez un quart d’heure jusqu’à la seconde bifurcation au lieu dit Source Cabris, poursuivre le GRR2 sur la droite et laissez sur votre gauche le sentier menant à Bras d’Oussy, pour atteindre la Porte via la Rivière des Galets. . GR R2 IGN
4402 RT
4401 RT
DE DEUX BRAS A LA REDOUTE (St Denis)
123,5 km 255 m Poste à Deux Bras Pointage électronique à l’arrivée et au départ. Après avoir franchi le bras Sainte-Suzanne, vous suivez le sentier de Deux-Bras dans le sous-bois. Avant d’atteindre l’îlet Albert, Vous rencontrerez à proximité une petite source. Après quarante-cinq minutes à une heure d’ascension, le sentier se rétrécit à flanc de falaise. Vous rencontrerez une échelle métallique. A partir de là, la pente devient forte et le sentier présente quelques passages plus ou moins vertigineux ; dans les parties les plus escarpées, des mains courantes vous aident à la progression ainsi que des barrières métalliques. Soyez vigilant ! Après un passage assez long en légère descente, une forte remontée en lacets permet d’atteindre un replat, … juste avant l’arrivée en contrebas de la rue de l’église. GR R2 P.88
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4402 RT
4401 RT
128 km 930 m Eglise Dos d’Ane Poursuivez cette rue passant devant l’église et à 150 m après celle-ci, prenez sur votre droite et suivez la D1 en contournant le village de Dos d’Ane. A la sortie du village, prendre sur votre gauche la rue en direction du stade municipal. GR R2 P.85
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4401 RT
4402 RT
130,5 km 1064 m
Stade de football de Dos d’Ane
Pointage électronique. Ravitaillement Soupes, Boissons Chaudes
Passez devant les toilettes publiques pour rejoindre La D1
De là prendre à gauche pour arriver au bout de 100m au départ du sentier qui monte vers Roche Vert Bouteille. Contournez Roche-Vert-Bouteille en prenant sur votre gauche le sentier qui vous ramène après une courte descente sur la Crête effilée qui sépare Mafate et Dos d’Ane. Ce sentier vous conduit au point Géodésique de Piton Fougères prendre à gauche à l’intersection CD 41-la Montagne-Plaine d’Affouches. Piton Bâtard, la dernière montée de la course vous y attend. Brève mais rapide environ 100 m de dénivelé. C’est promis c’est la dernière … GR R2 P.85 IGN
4401 RT
4402 RT
(A) P.74 IGN
4402 RT
137,1 km 1050 m Kiosque d’Affouches
Ravitaillement – soupes – Boissons Chaudes.
On descend la RF sur 3 km, point Géodésique prendre à droite vers la Route Forestière de la Plaine d’Affouches. Hors GR
Chemin à découvert (A) P.74
IGN
4402 RT
142,1 km 780 m La Fenêtre
Arrivé au carrefour dit la Fenêtre. Poursuivez tout droit le sentier qui borde la Crête de la Rivière de Saint-Denis en direction du Colorado.
Au sortir de la forêt, poursuivre vers le parking vous menant au poste. Hors GR (A) P.76
IGN
4402 RT
145,1 km 680 m Colorado Pointage électronique. Ravitaillement Marathon. Suivre le sentier de crête qui plus loin bifurque à droite et plonge dans la forêt en direction du Stade de la Redoute Hors GR
Chemin à découvert (A) P.74
IGN
4402 RT
150,1 km 53 m Saint-Denis
STADE DE LA REDOUTE… Pointage électronique.
L’arrivée et la fin de votre calvaire!
Repos et réconfort que vous attendez depuis 15 30 45 ou 60 heures.
Douches.. Repas à volonté au milieu du Village :
Hors GR
Chemin à découvert (A) P.74
IGN
4402 RT
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Dailey conducts malfunction drills during a raid-leaders course aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 8, 2014. Dailey, 22, from Coventry, R.I., is a team leader with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. Marines with 3/1 are the Battalion Landing Team with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (U.S. Marine photo by Cpl. Anna Albrecht/Released)
Raids were carried out this morning, Tuesday 16 March 2021, at 18 addresses in Wigan.
The raids were led by officers from GMP's Wigan district, Specialist Operations, Serious and Organised Crime Group and Challenger Teams from across the force.
Superintendent Mark Kenny of GMP’s Wigan District said: “GMP is committed to clamping down on drugs and the hugely detrimental impact they have on our communities. Today's operation highlights that, and means that individuals who have blighted their community have been arrested.
"Illegal drugs and, the organised criminal gangs who seek to control their supply, have a corrosive effect on our communities and attract further criminality to the areas they operate. Today's operation follows a long and complex investigation which will continue over the coming days.
"I would ask that if anyone has concerns about drug dealing or crime where they live, that they report it to us on 101 or 999 if it’s an emergency, or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also give us information via LiveChat on our website at www.gmp.police.uk.”
Raids were carried out this morning, Tuesday 16 March 2021, at 18 addresses in Wigan.
The raids were led by officers from GMP's Wigan district, Specialist Operations, Serious and Organised Crime Group and Challenger Teams from across the force.
Superintendent Mark Kenny of GMP’s Wigan District said: “GMP is committed to clamping down on drugs and the hugely detrimental impact they have on our communities. Today's operation highlights that, and means that individuals who have blighted their community have been arrested.
"Illegal drugs and, the organised criminal gangs who seek to control their supply, have a corrosive effect on our communities and attract further criminality to the areas they operate. Today's operation follows a long and complex investigation which will continue over the coming days.
"I would ask that if anyone has concerns about drug dealing or crime where they live, that they report it to us on 101 or 999 if it’s an emergency, or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also give us information via LiveChat on our website at www.gmp.police.uk.”
U.S. Marines with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct movement to an objective during a simulated mechanized raid aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 22, 2014. BLT 3/1 is the 15th MEU’s ground combat element.
Photo by Cpl. Steve H. Lopez
Raids were carried out this morning, Tuesday 16 March 2021, at 18 addresses in Wigan.
The raids were led by officers from GMP's Wigan district, Specialist Operations, Serious and Organised Crime Group and Challenger Teams from across the force.
Superintendent Mark Kenny of GMP’s Wigan District said: “GMP is committed to clamping down on drugs and the hugely detrimental impact they have on our communities. Today's operation highlights that, and means that individuals who have blighted their community have been arrested.
"Illegal drugs and, the organised criminal gangs who seek to control their supply, have a corrosive effect on our communities and attract further criminality to the areas they operate. Today's operation follows a long and complex investigation which will continue over the coming days.
"I would ask that if anyone has concerns about drug dealing or crime where they live, that they report it to us on 101 or 999 if it’s an emergency, or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also give us information via LiveChat on our website at www.gmp.police.uk.”
Raids were carried out this morning, Tuesday 16 March 2021, at 18 addresses in Wigan.
The raids were led by officers from GMP's Wigan district, Specialist Operations, Serious and Organised Crime Group and Challenger Teams from across the force.
Superintendent Mark Kenny of GMP’s Wigan District said: “GMP is committed to clamping down on drugs and the hugely detrimental impact they have on our communities. Today's operation highlights that, and means that individuals who have blighted their community have been arrested.
"Illegal drugs and, the organised criminal gangs who seek to control their supply, have a corrosive effect on our communities and attract further criminality to the areas they operate. Today's operation follows a long and complex investigation which will continue over the coming days.
"I would ask that if anyone has concerns about drug dealing or crime where they live, that they report it to us on 101 or 999 if it’s an emergency, or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also give us information via LiveChat on our website at www.gmp.police.uk.”
"The RTS Christian breaches atmosphere to extract Marine raiders on Alabast."
With their new Vesuvius-class cruisers, the Nipponian Empire was inflciting terrible losses on the Combined Navies. The opening months of the Second Black War were a series of defeats or pyrrhic victories for the Allies. The hordes of newly constructed Imperial cruisers were totally unexpected, representing an enormous industrial effort all the more impressive for the fact it was carried out in near-total secrecy.
The Holy Terran Republic's NIO saught to redeem itself in the eyes of the Admiralty. They started a massive clandestine network of spies and signal-gathering ships to track the movements of Vesuvius-class cruisers. When a suitable candidate presented itself, they presented Operation Red Castle to CINCSNO. Intel had revealed that the RIS Andromeda had been heavily damaged and sent to the shipyards on Alabast for repairs.
Alabast, being deep within Imperial territory, was lightly defended. The NIO proposed to send a small raiding force to infiltrate the repair yards, study the ship, sabotage it if possible, then bring back their findings so a weakness could be found. The plan was rejected by the War Council. The Council didn't believe any force small enough to get to Alabast undetected could fight its way back, and any large force would be intercepted immediately. One member, an unidentified high-ranking Army general, said it was "the most hare-brained scheme I've ever heard!" Another said the operation was "practically suicide".
Admiral Lewis "Snipe" Lee, an infamous fire-breather who'd won his commission by operational merit, disagreed. He privately approached the three intelligence officers who'd made the presentation and gave them his support. He suggested that a couple destroyers from the 3rd Fleet could "go down for maintenace" for a few days. Operation Red Castle was on. The three NIO officers would travel with the task force.
The RTS Christian and the RTS Cutlass would operate under the command of the Christian's CO, Captain Dawson. A special Marine detachment, code-named Ronin, was crammed solely aboard the Christian, as the Cutlass, being a Cutthroat-class, did not have the room to spare. Task Force Cetus set off in the dead of night, lighting up their FTLs only when behind the cover of a nearby moon.
Making their way past ISA pickets, they reached Imperial territory on the second day. Communicating by old-fashioned light signals, they evaded patrol units, though a tense moment occurred when a Concordat raider suddenly appeared and almost rammed the Christian. Luckily, the Cutlass managed to put a torpedo square into its engines without being detected. Given the notoriously unstable cores on Concordat ships, this one's sudden catastrophic failure didn't arouse Imperial suspicion.
On the fourth day, Task Force Cetus arrived in the Alabast system. As per the plan, the Christian took up station in near orbit and launched dropships carrying Marines and the NIO officers. The Cutlass maintained stealth and remained at stand-off distance to offer support if it became necessary.
The Marine dropships touched down, and Ronin moved towards its objective, which was laid up in docks nearby. Kinetic rounds from the orbiting destroyer flattened any suspected troop barracks and defensive structures, as well as roads of ingress to the yards. The Marines, after a brief firefight with dock guards, made it to the enemy cruiser.
Once inside, Ronin split into multiple groups led by an Intel officer. Eliminating any crew they came across, the teams headed for the captain's quarters, engineering room, CIC, and the primary magazine.
In an incredible stroke of good fortune, detailed schematics of the ship were found in the captains cabin, along with a frightened dock foreman hiding under the bed. Laser scans were made of the interior of the ship and charges planted in the primary magazine. Ronin headed for the dropships, but an Aluben-class cruiser blasted the LZ with plasma before they got there. The cruiser had just finished its own repairs and had been loitering in the lee of the planet, unnoticed.
The only way now to get the Marines off-planet was to land the Christian, which would be suicide under the guns of the Aluben. Although the scans of the Vesuvius and its schematics had been uploaded to the orbiting ships, Capt. Dawson never for a second considered abandoning his men.
Time was of the essence. An armoured battalion had closed in on the stranded troops, too close for orbital support. The Marines were low on ammo and a distress call had gone out to the Imperial fleet.
The Cutlass' captain leapt into action. He hurled his ship against the Nipponian heavy cruiser, drawing it away from the planet. The Christian plunged into a steep orbital entry, heating the outer hull plates to the limit of their metallurgical tolerance. Only excellent fire control by the Cutlass' Weapons System Operator Lieutenant Robin Kuo enabled it to tackle its much larger opponent.
Torpedos slammed into the heavy Imperial cruiser, whose barrages of plasma couldnt touch the erratic high-g maneuvers of the Cutlass. Finally, a daring raking pass at point-blank range breached the Aluben-class's power core, destroying it in a flash of atomic fire.
Meanwhile, the Christian managed to land near the Marines, who made a fighting withdrawal under the cover of the destroyer's guns. The Christian broke orbit just as an Imperial QRF fleet jumped in-system.
There followed eight harrowing days of pursuit and evasion, during which the Christian exhausted all of its ammunition. Task Force Cetus destroyed another two destroyers and damaged a cruiser during its journey back. The Cutlass was down to its last quarter-load of torpedoes when they reached safety.
Admiral Lee could not be punished for going being his superiors' back with such a success, and from then on the NIO was regarded very highly in the Navy for its willingness to take bold risks.
Cost of Operation Red Castle:
- 10 million credits for ship repairs
- 21 million credits for dropship replacements
- 4.9 million credits for ammuntion expended
- 162,533 credits to be paid to ((The Sailor's Yard)) for drinks & damages following celebratory shore leave of Task Force Cetus sailors & marines.
Raids were carried out this morning, Tuesday 16 March 2021, at 18 addresses in Wigan.
The raids were led by officers from GMP's Wigan district, Specialist Operations, Serious and Organised Crime Group and Challenger Teams from across the force.
Superintendent Mark Kenny of GMP’s Wigan District said: “GMP is committed to clamping down on drugs and the hugely detrimental impact they have on our communities. Today's operation highlights that, and means that individuals who have blighted their community have been arrested.
"Illegal drugs and, the organised criminal gangs who seek to control their supply, have a corrosive effect on our communities and attract further criminality to the areas they operate. Today's operation follows a long and complex investigation which will continue over the coming days.
"I would ask that if anyone has concerns about drug dealing or crime where they live, that they report it to us on 101 or 999 if it’s an emergency, or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also give us information via LiveChat on our website at www.gmp.police.uk.”