Arrests made in morning cannabis raids in Farnworth and Bury

This saw police make six arrests and seize a suspected cannabis farm with raids also conducted in Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale and Buckinghamshire.

At around 5.30am earlier today (Thursday 17 June), officers from the Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) and Serious and Organised Crime Group (SOCG) raided properties in Bury, Milnrow, Oldham, Radcliffe, Farnworth, and Crumpsall.

A suspected cannabis farm was found in Radcliffe and cannabis equipment has also recovered at the Farnworth address.

Five people ­— three women and two men aged between 25 and 42 ­— were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis.

Officers attending an address in Bury and arresting a suspect as part of drugs raids across the country

An address in the Gerrards Cross area of Buckinghamshire was also visited, and a 54-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

The suspects have all being taken to custody for questioning in relation to an investigation by police's Serious and Organised Crime Group into a class A and B drugs conspiracy that detectives estimate to be worth millions of pounds.

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Investigators launched the operation ­— codenamed Glory ­— in June 2020 as part of a probe into the supply of class A drugs across Greater Manchester, and beyond, by individuals with links to organised crime.

Officers attending an address in Bury as part of drugs raids across the country

Detective Chief Inspector Joe Harrop, of GMP's Serious Crime Division, said: "Today we have targeted a number of suspects that we believe are involved in the mass supply of class A and B drugs, namely cocaine and cannabis not just in Greater Manchester but across the North West.

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"Action like this comes after months of hard work to collate evidence and ensure we are tackling those responsible, but a huge part of our initial intelligence comes from members of the public feeding information to us or Crimestoppers anonymously.

Tactical aid unit vans used during drug raids across Bury and Farnworth

"We will always encourage the community to come to us with any suspicions or information they have so that we can respond and remove suspects and their illicit assets from the streets, and drive a wedge between offenders the supply."

Officers attending an address in Bury and arresting a suspect as part of drugs raids across the country

Anyone with information or concerns is asked to contact police online via www.gmp.police.uk or call 101.

Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.