Cash recovered from roof and two men arrested after morning raids in Heywood, Blackley and Bury

A significant amount of cash had been stashed in bags and thrown onto the roof from the bathroom window in a last-ditch attempt to hide it from officers

Cash was recovered from a rooftop and two men arrested after early morning raids in Heywood, Blackley and Hollins in Bury this morning (Thursday 11 March).

Drug warrants were executed at 6am by officers from GMP’s City of Manchester Challenger Team, Xcalibre Task Force and the Tactical Aid Unit.

During the warrants, two men, aged 29 and 37, were arrested on suspicion of offences including conspiracy to supply drugs, money laundering and firearms offences. They remain in custody for questioning.

Following a search of a property in Blackley, officers soon discovered a significant amount of cash had been stashed in bags and thrown onto the roof from the bathroom window in a last-ditch attempt to hide it from officers.

Other items seized from the properties included a car and mobile phones.

The warrants were conducted as part of GMP’s Operation Foam – a large scale investigation dedicated to identifying and dismantling the criminal use of encrypted communication services.
 

Read more: Heywood man charged following Operation Foam warrantPublished: 26 February 2021

Operation Foam is GMP’s strand of the NCA led Operation Venetic. The huge scale operation has spanned nearly every law enforcement agency across the United Kingdom.
 

Read more: 37 people arrested in Greater Manchester as part of national operation VeneticPublished: 02 July 2020

Under Operation Venetic, law enforcement agencies across the UK have joined together and shared expertise in order to breakthrough a highly sophisticated and encrypted global communication service, which was being used by organised crime groups.

Detective Inspector Ian McNabb of GMP’s City of Manchester Division, said: “Today’s result follows months of meticulous investigative work and is yet another successful step forward in our continued effort in disrupting this type of activity across Greater Manchester.

“Although we currently have two in custody for questioning, our investigation will continue and we would appeal to anyone who believes they hold information on suspicious activity – whatever that may be – to get in touch with police.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 0324. Alternatively reports can be made anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.