Man arrested and £6,000 worth of Class A and B drugs seized after public tip off in Wythenshawe

A man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply after officers attended a potential cuckooing report in Wythenshawe.

Officers from our E Relief Response team attended an address on Royalthorn Avenue in Benchill this afternoon (Monday 18 May 2026) following the report that a vulnerable person was being cuckooed and drugs were being sold from their address.

While at the property, we discovered and seized quantity of Class A and B drugs which are believed to be worth in the region of £6,000.  

Class A drugs found at the address in Wythenshawe

A suspect – a man in his 20s – remains in police custody for questioning. Investigations are ongoing.

Inspector Benjamin Davidson from our City of Manchester division said: “This arrest demonstrates our commitment to protecting vulnerable people and tackling the exploitation linked to ‘cuckooing’. We acted quickly on concerns raised by the community and have removed a quantity of drugs from the streets.

“We know the significant harm that this type of criminality causes to individuals and communities, and it shows the hard work of the officers within the E Relief Response team over here in south Manchester, that they have turned out to this address and safeguarded a victim and seized a significant amount of drugs.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the public for their submissions, without their help, we would not have been able to make this arrest and seizure, I would like to encourage anyone else in the community who may be in this situation, or believes someone to be a victim of it, to please report it.

“You can either do this in person to someone you know and trust, to a police officer or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously. Be assured that this is the rapid and positive action we will take to protect a vulnerable person.”

Cuckooing is a term used to describe the actions of suspected county lines organised crime groups forcing their way into a vulnerable adult’s home to use it as a place to store drugs and money.

Here are signs to lookout for:

• Not seeing the person who lives there, and a clear change in behaviour or routine
• Increase in visitors or cars to the vulnerable person’s property sometimes at unsociable hours
• Signs of drug use, such as strange smells coming from the property
• Windows covered or curtains closed all the time
• People hanging around the property, speaking on their phones

If you believe you are a victim of cuckooing, or know someone who could be, please report it either anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by calling GMP on 101.

Class A & B drugs, along with cash recovered from a property on Royalthorn Avenue in Benchill, Wythenshawe