Six people have been arrested in Spain after shootings, grenade attacks and murderous street violence between organised crime gangs in Salford and Swinton.
An international investigation into the shooting dead of Paul Massey on a Clifton street in July 2015 has now seen high-profile overseas arrests.
Guns and ammunition were found in the homes of suspected murderers and alleged armed gang members.
Three men and a woman from Salford were arrested in dawn raids in the Marbella area of Costa Del Sol on Tuesday 16 February.
It’s thought gang members had fled to Spain but were followed by rival gangs in an attempt to continue with their violent dispute on foreign soil.
The three Salford men, age 20, 25 and 28 are being held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a firearm and membership of an organised crime group.
The youngest man was also wanted on a European Arrest Warrant for possession of class A drugs and counterfeit money.
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On Wednesday 3 February 2016 a 23-year-old man from Salford was also arrested in Marbella on a European Arrest Warrant on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.
Police have been investigating the murder of Paul Massey, who was gunned down by a man in military gear firing an automatic machine gun in broad daylight outside his home in Salford last year.
Escalating violence in bloody turf wars has seen a string of shootings of the past 12 months, incluing the shooting of seven-year-old Christian Hickey and his mother Jane in Winton.
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Officers from the National Crime Agency – dubbed ‘Britain’s FBI’ – were backed by Spanish National Police and Greater Manchester Police.
A 41-year-old man from Trafford and a 31-year-old woman from Dublin, Ireland were also arrested on suspicion of membership of an organised crime group.
Two properties were raided as part of the operation, officers also recovered a loaded hand gun and ammunition and four knives from the properties during the warrants.
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Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe from Greater Manchester Police said: “These arrests are a significant result for Greater Manchester Police in our fight against organised crime in Salford.
“This sends out a clear message to all those involved in organised crime, that we will never give up and we will find you, even if you have left the country.”
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“We would like to thank the Spanish National Police and the National Crime Agency, once again they have shown their determination to relentlessly pursue criminals and fugitives who seek to use Spain as a base for their criminal activities.
“Our commitment to tackling serious organised crime in Salford will continue and we will use all of the powers and information available to us and our partners to target this criminality round-the-clock and put a stop to it for good.”
Anyone with any information about the issues linked to organised crime in Salford should contact police on 0161 856 9775,101, or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
