Police from Tameside investigating modern slavery and drugs trafficking between Tameside and Humberside have arrested three men and a woman this morning.

Properties were searched in Newton Heath, Failsworth, and the Northern Quarter area as part of an operation dedicated to disrupting a drugs line between Tameside and Hull that involves the criminal exploitation of vulnerable children.

Officers seized a large quantity of class A drugs, a .22 calibre rifle and ammunition for a handgun, during the raids.

Two men – aged 37 and 23 – and a 20-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. They remain in custody for questioning.

A 33-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of the same offences after officers from Humberside Police raided two addresses in Hull.

They also recovered three phones that have been seized and taken away in evidence.

The action is part of Operation Marconi which was formed in June 2020 and concerns the exploitation of children from Tameside aged between 16 and 17.

It is one of over 20 investigations being led by GMP Tameside’s Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) team dedicated to modern slavery and the exploitation of vulnerable people who have been coerced into criminal activity in the district.

The CCE team have already made an additional eight arrests as part of those investigations and four people have been charged with modern slavery and drug offences.

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