ORGANISED CRIME TARGETED ACROSS SALFORD AS NINE ARRESTED IN EARLY MORNING RAIDS

Officers from Salford's Challenger organised crime team and Display Enforcement team - with support from GMP’s Tactical Aid Unit and officers from other districts – executed a number of warrants.

Nine men were arrested and brought into police custody on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

The activity – codenamed Operation Display – comes following an investigation into the alleged large scale county lines drugs supply operating across Salford.

Today (Thursday 20 July 2023) teams from Greater Manchester Police systematically executed warrants across Salford, Gorton and Oldham under the Misuse of Drugs Act and arrested those identified. Further phases and arrests will be planned for the days and weeks following the initial activity. 

Operation Display is a joint covert investigation conducted by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) and Salford’s Challenger team. 

The investigation, which commenced in September 2022, was instigated to tackle the street level drug supply in Salford.

For several years Salford has had consistent reports of street level drug dealing in the Pendleton area including Salford Precinct and the Broadwalk. The dealing activity extends beyond Pendleton to areas such as Broughton, Higher Broughton and Eccles.

The main drug types concerned are heroin and crack cocaine, although there is also evidence of cannabis dealing.

The dealing activities often lead to acts of violence with rival drug gangs vying for control of the lucrative Salford Precinct and Eccles drug supply hotspots. This has led to firearms discharges, several stabbings and some fatalities.

'Salford Connect' has since been set up to protect victims of cuckooing and target those responsible for this increasing trend.

As a result of the Operation Display investigation 37 street level drug dealers have been encountered that are operating in the Pendleton, Eccles, Broughton and Higher Broughton areas. 

The investigation team has been working to formally identify those involved and as a result 14 individuals will be arrested during the first phase. From the first 14 suspects, three are identified as being under 17 years of age.

Following on from this morning’s activity local officers joined up with Crimestoppers and a digital van did a tour around Pendleton, Eccles and Broughton that led to plenty of engagement with members of the public. They were informed of the arrests that occurred as well as encouraged to continue generating information that relates to organised crime.

Detective Inspector Rebecca McGuigan, of GMP's Salford Challenger organised crime team, said: 

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"The execution of these warrants this morning should serve as a warning to those engaging in criminal activities - we will come after you and as a force we remain committed to tackling serious and organised crime across Greater Manchester. 

"I must thank our officers for their diligent intelligence gathering that enabled us to execute such a significant number of warrants today that led to many arrests, as well as the NWROCU for their support in this strike day. 

"Drugs supply and organised crime has been blighting the community of Salford for quite some time now and we’re continuing to be relentless in tackling serious and organised crime.

"I want to take this opportunity to encourage the public to continue reporting drug activity so we can take action and make Salford an even safer place to live and work."

 

A county line is the advertisement of illegal drugs via a mobile phone, known as a ‘graft line’, the drugs are then moved by dealers from one area to another as well as to other places across the country.

The organised crime groups will often exploit children to transport the drugs and money profited from its supply. The exploitation often includes using the homes of vulnerable adults as a base to store and deal the drugs from – a term known as cuckooing.

Here are signs of child criminal exploitation to look out for: Unexplained gifts, money and new expensive clothes or accessories; Increased missing from home episodes; New friendship groups; Receiving excessive calls or messages from ‘new friends’; Carrying weapons and may have a few mobile phones; Secretive or withdrawn from family and/or friends; Getting picked up or dropped off by unknown people; Not seeing the person who lives there, and a clear change in behaviour and routine; Increase in visitors or cars to a house or flat at unsociable hours; Signs of drug use such as strange smells coming from the property; Windows covered or curtains closed all the time; People talking on phones outside the address.

If you have information relating to organised crime – no matter how small – please contact either Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or call GMP on 101.

Below are services available to seek help and support:
Catch 22 is a specialist support and rescue service for young people and their families who are criminally exploited through county lines.
Safecall offers a safe space for people affected by exploitation to talk about their experiences in confidence and can also provide reassurance, support and help formulate a plan via their dedicated service.
Young people can contact Crimestopper's via Fearless to access non-judgemental information and advice.
The National Crime Agency County Lines website explains more about county lines and indicators of exploitation in your area.
The Safeguarding Network have helpful tips for understanding indicators of exploitation and what may make a young person more vulnerable to being exploited.