Two men have been arrested after early morning raids in the Waterhead area of Oldham, Langley area of Middleton and the Lower Place area of Rochdale.
The two men aged 35 and 38,were arrrested as part of Operation Foam which is GMP’s strand of the NCA led ‘Operation Venetic’.
Foam is a lengthy and intricate force-wide operation focused on the infiltration and takedown of the encrypted communications platform Encrochat, often used by organised criminal groups.
Detective Constable Chris Brown, of GMP’s Oldham Challenger Team, said: “Today’s result follows months of meticulous planning and investigative work and is yet another positive step forward in our endeavour to disrupt and dismantle the supply of class A and B Drugs, the criminal use of firearms and Organised crime in the Greater Manchester area.
“Whilst we have two men in custody our investigation does remain ongoing and we will continue to investigate and eradicate this type of criminal activity from the area. Drugs and illegal firearms in particular, blight communities and have absolutely no place amongst our community so I would encourage anyone with any information in regard to this type of activity to get in touch with police. Reports will be treated with the upmost seriousness and can be made in confidence.”
