Police have announced 18 arrests and the seizure of large quantities of cocaine, heroin and crack cocaine in Salford drug raids this morning.
200 officers helped execute warrants at 21 homes and businesses in Eccles and Pendleton in the early hours of Wednesday 14 October.
Heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, cannabis and cash was recovered, and a cannabis farm shut down.
These raids are still ongoing this morning at premises on Liverpool Road in Eccles, and various addresses in Salford.
13 men and three women have so far been arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs.
They remain in custody for questioning.
Detectives said the raids were the result of months of planning based on intelligence from the community about organised crime gangs.
The warrants were carried out as part of Project Gulf, a joint operation between Greater Manchester Police, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, UK Border Agency and others to tackle serious organised crime.
Superintendent Mark Kenny, of Salford Division, said: “These warrants are a result of a sustained and in-depth operation into the supply of Class A drugs not just in Salford, but Greater Manchester as a whole.
“They have utilised some excellent work by my officers in the gathering of intelligence and information, which has allowed us to seize a significant amount of drugs which would soon have been poisoning our streets.
“We have also been successful in confiscating a large amount of cash, hitting the dealers where it hurts.
“We would not have been able to carry out these warrants had it not been for members of the public coming to us with information and intelligence, and that is very pleasing.
“Our communities have already shown they are prepared to work with us in the fight against drugs and organised crime and I would like to express my thanks to those who came forward and helped us reduce the amount of dangerous narcotics in their areas.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
