Boy, 15, among arrests in ketamine crackdown

Fifteen people including a 15-year-old boy have been arrested in a cross-county crackdown on the supply of ketamine.

The arrests were made at homes in Burnley, Padiham, Nelson, Ramsbottom and Huddersfield as part of a Operation Shore, Lancashire Police said.

As well as the raids on properties, officers made several of the arrests by stopping suspicious drivers.

Insp Matt Plummer, said: "We have disrupted the supply of this harmful drug and saw really positive results but we know this is just the beginning."

Operation Shore aims to disrupt and prosecute people supplying ketamine while working alongside partner agencies to offer education and preventative support to people using the drug - a powerful tranquiliser - and their families.

Four men aged 21-43 and three boys aged, 15, 16 and 27 were later charged with a range of offences.

The remaining eight suspects were released pending further investigation.

Officers from the team have also been involved in recent education programmes about the drug in schools and colleges.

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