Major GMP operation into firearms and suspected gang violence sees four arrests and cash and drugs seized

In the early hours of this morning (Thursday 10 October), specialist officers from across the force executed six simultaneous warrants at addresses across North Manchester, West Yorkshire, and Staffordshire.

Four men have been arrested in connection with firearms offences, and systematic house searches remain ongoing.

Using a strategic scoring system to assess the impact of this group’s activity on the local community, the intelligence suggests that this alleged organise crime group are one of the most harmful in Greater Manchester, due to their volatility and access to firearms.

In response to this threat, substantial resources from across the force have been allocated to this operation, and GMP’s specialist anti-gang unit, codenamed Xcalibur have been doing extensive work to identify those involved and ensure safeguarding measures are in place around those at risk of violence or injury. Several months of meticulous work culminated this morning with warrants and we currently have four men aged between 19 - 22 in custody. The have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to possess a firearm.

Officers remain at several addresses conducting thorough house searches. So far, we’ve recovered large quantities of class A drugs, which officers caught being launched out of a window in North Manchester, and seized around £5000 cash.

This operation was also supported by specialist officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, GMP's Tactical Aid Unit and Tactical Firearms Unit, and our North Manchester Neighbourhood Team. Officers were also joined by expert firearms dogs who are using their specialist skills to locate any firearms which may be hidden in the addresses.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Moriarty from our Xcalibur Task Force said: “Enforcement operations like the warrants executed this morning illustrate how seriously we take issues of gun crime and youth violence, and we will always proactively tackle these issues. This supports and strengthens the work we do every day of the year across the force to reduce the threat of serious organised crime.

“A crucial part of the work we do in Xcalibur is to work with young people and offer them diversionary routes away from criminality. By working with our partners and the local community themselves, we aim to strengthen their resilience against opportunistic criminal gangs and eradicate the vicious cycle of gang recruitment by safeguarding those at risk of being lured into organised crime. 

“Information from the public is vital if we are to have a real impact on organised crime groups and I would appeal to anyone who has information to come forward.”

If you have information about firearms in your community, contact GMP on 101, or use our LiveChat function online at www.gmp.police.uk. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

If you would prefer to remain anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

GMP is leading the way in firearms recoveries. In the last three years, 232 firearms have been taken out of the hands of criminals, and some of Greater Manchester’s most prolific offenders have received prison sentences totalling almost 500 years.