Ten people have been arrested and drugs and cash have been seized after dawn raids. In the early hours of yesterday morning (Wednesday) police executed simultaneous warrants at 10 properties across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
The raids were carried out as part of Operation Vulcan - aiming to tackle serious and organised crime in the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways areas. They followed an investigation into the distribution of drugs and the exploitation of minors.
The properties were searched and 'large amounts; of Class B and Class C drugs and approximately £60,000 in cash was seized Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.
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Five men have were arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences and conspiracy to supply class B and C drugs.
Three men and a 14-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class B and C drugs. Whilst one man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of class C drugs. They all remain in custody for questioning.
Detective Inspector Chris Julien, one of Operation Vulcan’s specialist officers said: “I hope today’s arrests and seizures go to show that Operation Vulcan is about much more than seizing counterfeit clothing.
“The sale of drugs and the exploitation of young, vulnerable people is a product of the criminality that has been embedded in the area for decades, and we are absolutely committed to tackling these issues, identifying those who are responsible, and bringing them to justice.
“At its heart, Operation Vulcan is a partnership effort, and whilst enforcement is an important element; real, sustainable change would not be possible without the help of the local community and our dedicated partner agencies.
"The multi-agency approach Operation Vulcan has adopted allows for maximum intelligence and evidence sharing to make sure every victim is identified early on and safeguarded.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to appeal to members of the public for information. If you’ve noticed any suspicious activity in your area, or you suspect an individual may be being taken advantage of by criminal gangs, please report it. We will act on this information.”
Information can be shared online at www.gmp.police.uk or by calling 101. Alternatively, details can be shared via the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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