Quantities of cocaine, cannabis plants and an estimated £20,000 cash has been seized during early morning raids by police at addresses across Rochdale and Lancashire, believed to be connected to a large-scale drugs conspiracy.
Eight people, aged between 27 – 56, have been arrested on conspiracy to supply drugs. They remain in police custody for questioning.
These are the latest arrests which come as part of our ongoing investigations into the criminal use of encrypted mobile phones.
In 2020, as a result of the NCA take down of Encrochat – the encrypted messaging platform once used by criminals across the globe, we were handed hundreds and thousands of messages from the once secure platform.
This gave police an insight into the criminal underworld which had never been seen before.
Detective Sergeant Rich McCorry from our Serious Organised Crime Group said: “The ability for criminals to benefit from the proceeds of drugs is a key driver for organised crime, and we have specialist detectives working tirelessly to eliminate the key players from criminal networks across the region.
“Today’s action is a result of months of hard work by detectives whose proactive investigations into the drugs trade in Manchester has led them through these doors today.
“We will continue to employ every possible tactic to target and disrupt organised crime groups, and ensure they are brought to justice.”
