Three suspects named as police carry out crackdown on notorious estate

Three men have been charged with drug-related offences as part of a crackdown into crime on a Rochdale estate.

Greater Manchester Police officers launched operation Affect, focused on the Freehold estate in the town. Earlier this week, a number of arrests were made as part of the crackdown.

Three suspects - aged 60, 20 and 50 - have now been charged. Anthony Shaw, 60, of Hartlebury, Freehold, Rochdale, has been charged with concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.

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Chukwudi Ejim, 20, of Cover Drive, Rochdale, has been charged with concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and two counts of possession of criminal property.

Arfan Khan, 50, Drake Street, Rochdale, has also been charged with concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. All three men have been remanded into custody.

They were due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court today (September 28). A GMP spokesperson said: "These charges are a result of an ongoing investigation, where arrests were made earlier this week, and a proactive operation called Affect by our Rochdale North Neighbourhood officers focused on the Freehold estate."

The Freehold estate became the focus of national attention following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak. Widespread issues of damp and mould on the estate, damaging the health of vulnerable young children, were uncovered by the Manchester Evening News.

However, it has also been plagued by crime and anti-social behaviour over the past few years - leading to GMP launching Operation Affect.

Dozens of arrests have been made under Op Affect and a