Three teenagers charged with modern slavery offences after Middleton morning raids

Photo: Greater Manchester Police

Warrants were carried out on Wednesday morning (9 November), where three dangerous individuals were arrested

Two men from Middleton and a juvenile have been charged following a number of simultaneous warrants that were served across Greater Manchester on Wednesday 9 November.

Warrants were carried out on Wednesday after a Rochdale district-led investigation into modern slavery and conspiracy to supply class A drugs offences.
 

Read more: Members of "dangerous" urban street gang arrested in MiddletonPublished: 09 November 2022

Muhammed Kamara and Hamza Abdi, both 18, and a 16-year-old boy, have been charged under Section 1 of the Modern Slavery Act.

They have all been remanded in custody and were due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court this morning, Thursday 10 November.

A number of weapons, such as knives, an axe and machetes were recovered. A number of telecommunication devices were also seized.

The investigation was supported by specialist officers from GMP’s Force County Lines team and had identified a number of vulnerable adults who were being subjected to an horrific campaign of intimidation by an urban street gang – who had also captured the market share of class A drugs supply in the area.

Officers also discovered individuals who had been forced to produce and deal class A drugs, and whose premises had been subjected to ‘cuckooing’ – where criminal gang members have taken over their homes and, on some occasions, forced terrified occupants to flee.

DI Stuart Round, of the Rochdale Challenger Organised Crime Team, said: “These arrests and charges are the result of hours of dedicated police work from my team, working tirelessly alongside partners and other policing teams to protect the people who need us the most.

“If you come to Rochdale to deal drugs and ruin people’s lives, then we won’t hesitate to use every method we have, to bring you to justice.”

If anyone has any information that can help with enquiries, please contact Greater Manchester Police via https://orlo.uk/QQvG9 or 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.

Information about crime can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.