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Group of ‘suspected drug smugglers’ arrested after targeted raids across North West

GMP says the group were responsible for importing high-strength cannabis into the UK.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 5th January 2024

Eight “suspected drug smugglers” have been arrested after a series of targeted police raids took place across the North West yesterday.

The arrests were part of what was a major Greater Manchester Police (GMP) operation targeting a suspected organised crime group that imported high-strength cannabis into the UK.

After GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group (SOCG) coordinated 16 simultaneous warrants across Manchester, Cheshire, West Yorkshire, and Lancashire in the early hours of yesterday morning (Thursday 4 January), an organised crime group that was suspected to be facilitating the importation of cannabis from the US was targeted.

Police and partners from the Border Force intercepted over 100 kilos of cannabis during the raids, GMP confirmed.

During a search of the properties, police also recovered £500k cash, and a BMW M4.

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Following the series of targeted raids, a total of eight people – who are all between the ages of 18 and 52 – have been arrested on suspicion of importation of cannabis.

They currently remain in police custody for questioning.

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According to GMP, it’s believed that each of the now-arrested individuals had various roles within the conspiracy, and these roles ranged from orchestrating the importation, to arranging payment for the shipments, and selling the drugs to criminals across the UK.

A group of ‘suspected drug smugglers’ have been arrested after targeted raids across North West / Credit: GMP

GMP believes the total value of the cannabis seized so far to exceed the £3 million mark.

Speaking following the successful raids this week, Detective Inspector Claire Rawcliffe, who is from GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group, commented: “I’m grateful to Border Force and colleagues from our neighbouring forces for the support they have provided to our ongoing operation and investigation.

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“So far, over £3 million of worth of cannabis has been seized.

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“But we will continue to work with our partners to identify and prevent the new and innovative methods criminals take to smuggle illegal drugs into our country.”

Featured Image – GMP

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Salford murder victim named and pictured after human remains found

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The victim at the heart of a Salford murder investigation launched after human remains were found has been named as Stuart Everett, 67.

The victim of a major murder investigation in Salford has been named and pictured by police.

Detectives are ‘confident’ that the victim is Stuart Everett, 67, though formal identification is yet to take place.

A major investigation was launched on 4 April after body parts wrapped in plastic were found in Kersal Dale.

Further human remains were then discovered at Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood over last weekend.

DNA samples have been sent away for urgent forensic analysis, after which the victim’s identity will be formally confirmed.

Stuart’s family are being supported by specially-trained GMP officers.

GMP said: “In the last 48 hours they have heard the most devastating news that anyone could hear, and our thoughts remain with them as they begin to process this.”

Two men have been charged with murder and will appear at Manchester Crown Court this morning.

A large police presence will continue to be deployed around Salford as GMP looks to recover more evidence.

The remains found at the other three locations in Salford are still to be tested, but GMP says it is ‘confident’ that they belong to the same victim.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes from GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “My thoughts and the thoughts of officers and staff across Greater Manchester Police are with Stuart’s family at this traumatic time. Family Liaison Officers are supporting them through each update in our investigation.

“On behalf of Stuart’s loved ones, I ask the public and the press to please respect their wishes for peace and privacy while they process this most devastating news. 

“My officers and detectives, alongside additional resources from across the force, have worked tirelessly over the last three days to secure charges.

“We are grateful for the public’s continued help and support throughout this case. We understand the shockwaves this has caused throughout the community and beyond, and we hope you are reassured by the pace of our investigation and also our large police presence in the areas as we continue to make enquiries.

“We have officers drawn from different teams and units in GMP who have helped us search and their efforts do not go unnoticed, and they have all played an important role to help us get to this stage in our investigation.

“We said right at the start that our investigation will not stop until we have every stone unturned, and this continues to be the case. Our investigation has been a huge process so far, and we will continue to push forward in our enquiries to find answers for Stuart’s family.”

Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder. They are due to appear at Manchester Crown Court this morning (30 April 2024).

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Featured image: GMP

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Premier League agrees new spending cap after ‘majority of clubs’ vote in favour

Danny Jones Danny Jones Premier League clubs agree vote for new spending cap

The Premier League has reached an agreement in principle on a new spending cap for all teams as the English top flight looks to replace the current Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Set to be installed from the 2025/26 season onwards once fully ratified, revised spending limits will placed on teams in the first division, the number for which will be calculated in relation to a multiple of the money earned in prize money and TV rights by the lowest-earning club in the Premier League.

If approved at the AGM (annual general meeting) this June, the new model will replace the existing PSR system under which multiple clubs have broken FFP and been charged with other breaches over recent years, with Everton and Nottingham Forest having already been deducted points this season.

Although 16 of the 20 Premier League clubs reportedly agreed to the newly proposed regulations, four clubs were not in favour, with Manchester City, Man United and Aston Villa all said to have voted against the decision, while Chelsea chose to abstain.

The proposed spending cap wouldn’t come into effect until the 2025/26 Premier League season.

The new max-spending model is being referred to as ‘anchoring’ or ‘tethering’, which will take into account total amounts spent on buying players, weekly wages, agents’ fees and more.

If successful following a final vote in June and brought through the season after next, the aim is to curb the increasing financial gap between the top and bottom of the table by preventing things like big sponsorships which may otherwise see clubs assert massive spending power during transfer windows.

According to the Independent, cost controls will now “limit club expenditure on salaries, signing and fees to 85 per cent of total revenue” for those not competing in European competitions.

This comes after Premier League teams previously the latest UEFA rules that will see those playing in the likes of the Champions, Europa and Conference League only allowed to spend 70% of that revenue, given the added financial uplift from qualifying for these tournaments.

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While 16 yeas were enough to see the initial vote move forward, it will only require 14 out of 20 clubs to agree to the rule change in June for the motion to be fully passed.

A Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) spokesperson said: “We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages.

“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”

It will be interesting to see how these new rules will factor into the wider decision-making regarding Man City, with 115 breaches of UEFA’s FFP regulations still looming over the City Football Group.

What punishment could Manchester City face for FFP breaches?
Over a year on and they’re not closer to finding out their fate.

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Featured Images — SonoGrazy (via Wikimedia Commons)

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