A Bury bar has been ordered to close after a police raid uncovered £20,000 of cocaine and a suspected cannabis farm in its basement.
The Hub Bar on Haslam Street has had its licence suspected pending a review by the council after a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) operation found evidence of organised crime taking place at the premises.
On September 1, police executed a warrant at the bar as well as at other locations in Bury, as part of Operation Golf, which targets the supply of Class A drugs with a particular focus on cocaine.
Bury licensing officer, PC Peter Ecclestone, who attended a council hearing on Friday, said the raid uncovered a suspected cannabis farm in the basement of the bar and cocaine is several places on the premises.
A total of 68 harvested cannabis plants were found behind a false wall which police say were "drying out as part of the production process".
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PC Ecclestone said officers also found three quarters of a kilo of cocaine hidden in various places in the bar with a value of £20,000.
He told the local authority's licensing committee that some small deals were found which had “obviously been prepared to sell to patrons".
PC Ecclestone said: “We also found the electricity supply at the premises had been bypassed which posed a considerable fire risk.
“As a result of the evidence obtained the designated premises supervisor along with several other individuals were arrested for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.”
He told the committee that GMP has requested the suspension of the licence as it believes the bar has been linked to serious crime.
PC Ecclestone added: “(The bar was) managed with no regard for the law, never mind the license objectives and poses a risk to safety.”
He added that the designated premises supervisor had been charged with several offences, including the production of cannabis and conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent in supply.
He appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Friday, September 8.
The premises license holder, Natalie Cummings, told committee members she was “disgusted” over the alleged activity at the bar and had not been involved with its running for around two years.
She said: “I’m still rather in shock about the whole thing. I’ve not been actively involved in the bar for a long time.
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“I understand the decision from GMP about wanting to review the licence.
“I can only apologise, I am disgusted, if you decide to revoke the license I understand and respect that."
Concluding, chair Cllr Gavin McGill said the committee had made the decision to suspend the license pending a full review.
He said: “The reason for that is the prevention of crime and disorder, on the balance of probability the premises were involved in serious organised crime."
He added that the bar’s location in a residential area put residents, and particular children at risk and noted significant danger created by the bypassing of the electric meter.
A full review hearing will take place within 28 days. The licence holder may appeal the committee’s decision.
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