Police arrest 21 in Greater Manchester raids targeting a family-run crime gang accused of drug trafficking, child exploitation and modern slavery offences.
A series of coordinated dawn raids across Greater Manchester and beyond have led to the arrest of 21 people suspected of being part of a long-running, family-run organised crime group involved in drug trafficking and modern slavery offences.
The operation began at 05:00 GMT, with officers targeting properties in Salford, Manchester, Rochdale, Tameside, Bury, Wigan and Bolton, as well as additional addresses in Merseyside and Wales, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop, head of GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, said the action was aimed at dismantling a criminal network believed to have operated for around a decade. Investigators allege the group was involved in supplying heroin, cocaine and cannabis, along with money laundering and the “taxing” or robbing of rival gangs.
Police said the organisation routinely exploited vulnerable individuals, including children as young as 12, to distribute drugs. Harrop described the practice as a “stain on our communities,” warning that some recruited children are unaware of the full extent of their involvement before becoming further embedded in criminal networks.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson, who attended the raids, described the group’s activity as criminality “of the highest level.” He said those at the top of such operations often exploit young people and abandon them when they are arrested, while the leaders attempt to shield themselves from prosecution.
Authorities believe the gang spanned multiple generations within the same family and functioned as a central hub for wider criminal activity. The investigation is ongoing, with officers seeking to disrupt operations at every level of the alleged network.
Police have urged the public to remain alert to signs that children may be being groomed for exploitation, including sudden possession of large sums of cash or expensive clothing.
Reports are sourced from official documents, law-enforcement updates, and credible investigations.
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