Three arrests in human trafficking investigation

DETECTIVES investigating human trafficking and county lines gangs smashed into six homes and arrested three men.

The men, two aged 18 and one aged 22, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and engaging in human trafficking for the purpose of criminal exploitation.

They remained in custody for questioning following the dawn raids in Beswick at 6am yesterday.

The arrests were made as part of Operation Fosbury, an ongoing investigation into the exploitation of vulnerable adults and children.

The new team, which includes specialist detectives from GMP, was launched by the City of Manchester Complex Safeguarding Hub.

The investigation focuses on helping victims involved in county lines gangs, or who are sexually or criminally exploited.

County lines offending involves young people being sent around the UK to sell drugs.

They could be trafficked to the local area, or to other areas across the county where they have no links. It often involves the victims being subjected to ‘deception, intimidation, violence, financial exploitation and grooming’, GMP said.

Det Insp Andy Buckthorpe said: “As a result of the investigation, we have been able to identify a number of vulnerable people within the Manchester area who have been exploited in the most horrendous way by organised criminals and they will now receive bespoke multi-agency support.”