In the early hours of Monday, September 18 Operation Vulcan carried out a targeted operation, executing a warrant at a property on Choral Grove, Salford, as part of its ongoing efforts to combat the suspected supply of prescription drugs in the Cheetham Hill area.
During the operation, a 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of class C drugs. Additionally, significant amounts of cash were discovered inside the property.
The origins of this operation can be traced back to July of this year when Operation Vulcan faced its most significant challenge yet. During that operation, law enforcement seized a staggering number of counterfeit items, drugs, and vapes stored in shipping containers on the outskirts of Cheetham Hill. This particular operation was hailed as the UK’s largest police initiative aimed at combating counterfeit trade, a problem that had reached significant proportions globally.
Among the items discovered during the operation were thousands of prescription drugs, believed to have links to a man in Salford. Following this discovery, Operation Vulcan launched an extensive investigation into the illegal supply of prescription drugs in Manchester. Their determination led to another significant seizure in August, which amounted to approximately £2 million worth of illicit prescription medication, marking the largest single seizure of its kind in the UK’s history.
The recent arrest forms part of a series of actions undertaken by Operation Vulcan to target individuals suspected of involvement in the illegal supply of prescription drugs. Detective Chief Inspector Chris Julien, one of the specialist officers leading Operation Vulcan, commented on the operation, saying, “People’s lives are being destroyed by the misuse of prescription drugs, and we will continue to disrupt and dismantle the supply chains operating out of the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways areas.”
Detective Chief Inspector Julien emphasised the collaborative effort involved in tracing the origins and those responsible for the illegal supply chains. He urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicions regarding the illegal supply of prescription drugs or illicit substances, either through the Greater Manchester Police website, LiveChat, or anonymously to Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
