A series of coordinated raids across the North West in the early hours has led to 10 people being arrested for drug and modern slavery offences.
As part of Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) ongoing ‘Operation Vulcan’ – a targeted action plan designed to eradicate “criminal activity” from Cheetham Hill, Strangeways, and the surrounding Manchester areas – 10 simultaneous warrants at a number of properties across Greater Manchester and Lancashire were executed.
With the warrants obtained, officers then headed out in the early hours of yesterday morning (12 April), and GMP has confirmed that 10 people have been arrested for a number of drug and modern slavery offences.
Five men have been 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, and then one man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of class C drugs.
Each of the 10 arrested all remain in police custody for questioning, according to GMP.
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As well as the arrests, police also found large amounts of class B and class C drugs stored within the several properties raided, and surprisingly, found and seized approximately £60,000 that was stashed inside a Star Wars-branded metal tin.
“I hope these arrests and seizures demonstrate that Operation Vulcan is about much more than seizing counterfeit clothing,” admitted Detective Inspector Chris Julien, one of Operation Vulcan’s specialist officers after the raids.
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Police find and seize £60k cash stashed inside a Star Wars tin / Credit: GMP
“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.”
GMP is also appealing to the public for information, and is asking that anyone who may have noticed suspicious activity in their area, or suspect an individual may be being taken advantage of by criminal gangs, to report it.
“We will act on this information,” DI Julien concluded.
Featured Image – GMP
News
Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre
Daisy Jackson
Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.
Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.
A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.
It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.
Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.
Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
Emily Sergeant -
13th April 2023 
