Seventeen suspects have been arrested after an undercover operation to smash gangs supplying crack cocaine and heroin to Manchester's homeless people. Dawn raids were carried out after an eight-month investigation into drugs being sold openly on the street, just a mile from the city centre.
Police believe six drugs lines run from Miles Platting and Beswick have been smashed after officers posed as drug users to buy crack and recorded the deals. Operation Comanche was launched after families in both areas have had to live with brazen selling of drugs daily.
Both districts have seen colossal investment in recent years in new homes built round the Ashton and Rochdale Canals. But they have been blighted by dealers who are making huge profits to finance flash lifestyles peddling misery to the homeless.
