A week of action targeting County Lines drugs gangs saw a total of £57,400 in cash was seized and approximately £360,000 worth of street value drugs including 496 wraps/deals and 4kg of cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin.
An imitation firearm, machetes, baseball bats and swords were also recovered.
In Greater Manchester, county lines is linked to serious violence, threats and harm to those associated with organised crime, creating a risk to the wider community. The information police receive from the public is important in preventing and protecting communities, vulnerable adults and children.
In Harpurhey officers participated in two days of action with the charity Crimestoppers. It involved interacting with the local community to inform of organised crime occurring in the area and to encourage anonymous reporting with a digital van travelling around the area and a maildrop delivered to 10,000 homes.
Seventeen homes were identified as linked to cuckooing and people living there visited by officers and partners to provide specialist support and advice to safeguard them. This is a term used to describe how organised crime groups force their way into the homes to use the property to store drugs and firearms.
Officers engaged with and safeguarded 17 boys and 10 girls aged under 18 who could be at risk of exploitation by organised crime groups. They also patrolled hot spot areas at bus and train stations alongside fast food restaurants.
Primary and secondary schools also received visits, to educate pupils and teachers on how organised crime groups recruit youngsters to deal drugs on their behalf and the signs they should look out for.
The activity ran from Monday 27 February to Friday 3 March.
Detective Inspector Zoe MacDonald, from GMP’s County Lines Team, said: “The results we’ve achieved will have caused considerable disruption to the county line networks operating in Greater Manchester, most importantly it has helped safeguard vulnerable members of our community.
“County lines encompasses a wide-ranging threat to the people within our city and isn’t a crime based on drug dealing alone. It brings with it exploitation of vulnerable people and children but also serious risk and harm to those involved in and associated with organised crime groups. The feuds, violence and murders behind the scenes should highlight the true reality of organised crime and not the lavish lifestyle often portrayed on the streets and on social media.
“Therefore, the work we do on a weekly basis to disrupt organised crime, protect and prevent young children and vulnerable adults from being targeted by organised crime gangs will continue to be one of our top priorities.”
