Teen Arrested After Dawn Raid Uncovers Converted Firearm and Drug Supply Operation in Oldham

A 19-year-old man has been arrested following an early morning raid in Oldham that uncovered a converted firearm and evidence of a social media-based drug supply operation.

Specialist officers forced entry into a residential property on Harvey Street at 5am yesterday after Greater Manchester Police’s serious crime division detected drug dealing activity through social media channels. The warrant was part of a long-running investigation into county lines drug operations.

Inside the property, officers seized multiple items believed to be used for manufacturing and distributing Class B drugs. A converted Turkish-manufactured Top Venting Blank Firers (TVBF) firearm was recovered from the exterior of the premises - a weapon type currently subject to a national surrender amnesty.

Evidence gathered at the scene led detectives to execute a second search at an address on Oldham Road in Failsworth, where additional drug supply paraphernalia was seized.

Sufiaan Ali, of Hardy Street, has been charged with possession of items for drug supply, possession of criminal property, possession of a convertible imitation firearm, and being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs including THC and synthetic cannabinoids. He was remanded to appear at Minshull Street Court on Friday, March 14.

Detective Sergeant John Schofield from GMP’s County Lines team said: “This activity demonstrates how we are continuing to disrupt and dismantle drug lines running in and out of Greater Manchester. The firearm we recovered is an indication of the risk this activity poses to the victims within the network, as well as the wider community.”

Police emphasized that TVBF firearm owners have until the end of February to surrender their weapons without facing prosecution, after which possession carries a potential 10-year prison sentence.

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