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40 people arrested as part of ‘week of action’ to close down active drug lines across Greater Manchester

GMP has released a statement.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 16th March 2026

40 people arrested as part of ‘week of action’ organised last week by police to close down active drug lines across Greater Manchester.

Various policing activities took place alongside partners across all districts and boroughs as part of County Lines Intensification Week – which ran from Monday 2 – Sunday 8 March 2026 – with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirming that officers conducted a total of 30 warrants.

Warrants resulted in 40 arrests across Greater Manchester, with 20 active drugs lines closed down, as well as more than £34,000 in cash and a substantial amount of class A and class B drugs seized.

Drugs seized included heroin, amphetamines, cocaine, and cannabis.

Mobile phones, weapons – including stun guns, zombie knives, crossbows, and an axe – were also confiscated, and to top it off, electric bikes, designer goods, and high-value electronic devices were also recovered during the process too.

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Some of the arrests made include six men, aged between 20 and 42, on suspicion of production of cannabis and abstracting electricity, and three men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of various drug-related offences.

County Lines Intensification Week ran as part of a national coordinated action targeting county lines offenders, removing dangerous drugs and weapons from our streets, and safeguarding vulnerable adults and children, GMP explained.

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If you’re unfamiliar, County Lines is the use of dedicated phone lines to deal drugs from one location to another, and it is known for often exploiting children and vulnerable adults who are groomed and coerced into moving, storing, and selling drugs.  

County Lines teams use the ‘four Ps’ as a strategy to tackle organised criminals trafficking drugs and safeguard vulnerable people – Prevent, Protect, Prepare, and Pursue.

More than £34,000 in cash was also seized by police / Credit: GMP

Speaking following the week of action, Detective Inspector John Schofield, from GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit. said: “We have had a very busy and successful County Lines Intensification Week, with various lines disrupted thanks to the warrants we have executed.   

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“Intelligence gathered from the community played a vital role in us being able to conduct this activity, which saw 30 warrants, resulting in 40 arrests and 20 drug lines closed down across Greater Manchester.

“This week’s action is a powerful example of our commitment to dismantle organised crime in our region.    

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Deputy Mayor of Safer and Stronger Communities, Kate Green, added: “County lines activity brings significant harm to our communities. It fuels the supply of dangerous drugs while exploiting children and vulnerable adults who are often groomed, coerced and threatened into criminal activity.

“That is why tackling this type of organised crime is a key priority for partners across Greater Manchester.”

Featured Image – GMP