Greater Manchester Police are searching for a man who fled from a tram stop in Oldham’s Derker area following the discovery of Class B drugs and money during Operation Vulcan, a targeted crime reduction patrol.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are currently searching for a man who fled from a tram stop in Oldham’s Derker area after officers discovered drugs and cash at the scene. The incident occurred on the evening of Friday 25 April during a routine patrol under Operation Vulcan, an initiative aimed at tackling crime in Derker.
Officers noticed a man acting suspiciously near the tram stop but he ran off when they approached. A swift search of the location revealed a significant quantity of Class B drugs and money. GMP shared images showing eight small bags, which appeared to contain cannabis, alongside 16 additional bags labelled as “Bando Buddies,” believed to also contain cannabis. Several pound coins and a bundle of £20 banknotes were recovered as well.
Inspector Dan Cullum, who is involved with Operation Vulcan, commented on the find, stating: “This was a great find by our officers who were on duty last night. Extensive forensic work is underway to locate the owner of this illicit commodity and it further contributes to our overall intelligence picture in the area as we continue to tackle drugs supply in Derker.”
Operation Vulcan follows similar crime reduction efforts previously undertaken by GMP, such as those at Piccadilly Gardens and Counterfeit Street, applying comparable tactics to disrupt illegal activity in the area.
Police are urging anyone with information about drug supply in Derker to come forward, encouraging contact via the GMP non-emergency number 101, their Live Chat service online, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The investigation remains ongoing as officers work to identify and apprehend the individual responsible.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The incident is dated 25 April (year not explicitly stated but presumably recent), indicating very recent news. There is no indication this narrative is recycled or a press release, but it resembles a timely local police update. No references to outdated roles or events were found.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The only direct quote is from Inspector Dan Cullum about the drug find and ongoing investigation. This quote appears original and specific to this event with no earlier online matches found, suggesting it is a fresh statement from GMP representatives.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Manchester Evening News, a well-known regional UK publication with a generally reliable reputation for local news coverage. While not a national or international outlet, it is credible for reporting on local policing matters.
Plausibility check
Score:
10
Notes:
Claims are highly plausible given the local policing context and routine crime-fighting operation (Operation Vulcan). Details like number of bags, drug types, and recovered cash fit typical police drug find reports. No extraordinary or unverifiable claims are present.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is a timely and credible report of a recent police incident in Oldham, supported by an original quote from a GMP inspector and published by a reputable regional news outlet. The described events and details are plausible and consistent with routine law enforcement activities, with no signs of recycled news or unverifiable claims.
