Officers from our Serious and Organised Crime Group (SOCG) have arrested nine people this morning (Wednesday 19 August 2026), following 12 simultaneous warrants that were carried out across Bolton and Tameside.

At around 6am, a coordinated strike saw our Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) saw us burst through doors and windows, as the rest of Greater Manchester slept.

Having started the investigation back in September 2025, officers have spent almost a year gathering information which had led to this morning’s action.

At an address on Hurst Street, a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, meanwhile at a property on Rishton Lane, another man – in his 20s – was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs with officers also locating what is believed to be two kilograms of cocaine at the address.

From there, officers also had intelligence that the Organised Crime Group (OCG) had been potentially storing items in a shipping container, which was located at a self-storage unit at a business premises on Folds Road in Bolton.

After gaining entry to the container, we seized a safe containing approximately £2,000, a cash counting machine and four bags each containing over one kilogram of white powder now identified as cocaine.

Officers also seized £50,000 in cash at one of the addresses.

In total eight men and one woman – aged between 20 and 56 – have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Detective Sergeant Richard McCorry from our Serious Organised Crime Group said: “This morning’s operation is the culmination of almost a year of hard-work intelligence gathering, and partnership working with different forces across the country.

“The individuals we have arrested are suspected of being involved in criminal activity that can have a devastating impact on our communities, through the sale and distribution of drugs across Greater Manchester and the violence that it brings with it.

“Today’s warrants demonstrate our commitment to disrupting organised crime groups at every opportunity. By acting on intelligence, executing warrants, and targeting those suspected of being involved in criminality, we are making it clear that this type of activity will not be tolerated.

“We have also recovered what we believe to be significant quantities of Class A drugs and other items which will now form part of our ongoing investigation.

“While arrests have been made, our enquiries remain ongoing and further arrests will be made. I would encourage anyone with information about serious organised crime in their area to come forward and speak to us.”