More than 10,000 units of suspected psychoactive drugs were seized from a shop in Manchester after an investigation into drug trafficking in Strangeways prison.
On Tuesday, August 5, officers raided a store Bury New Road, Strangeways, where they found a hoard of synthetic cannabinoids alongside pills and powders that have a similar effect to ecstasy.
They also recovered £6,000 in cash.Two men were arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.
Detective Inspector Liam Boden of Greater Manchester Police said: “This warrant was executed following growing concerns about these new psychoactive substances being trafficked into HMP Manchester.
“We are working very closely with the prison to prevent these drugs from getting into the prison and to identify the suppliers on the outside who are behind this criminal enterprise and lining their own pockets by doing so.
HAUL: Two men have been arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.
“Drugs can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, not just the users but their families and in an environment like a prison they can lead to further violence and criminality.
“That is why we and HMP Manchester are working so closely to combat this emerging problem and while we still have to forensically test the thousands of units we have recovered, if they are controlled drugs then we will have made a huge dent into the supply chain of new psychoactive substances.
The recent crackdown relates to the nationwide problem of ‘over the counter’ highs such as ‘Black Mamba’ and ‘Spice’ making their ways into prisons.
The drugs are synthesized in laboratories to have incredible potency.
A spokesperson for HMP Manchester said: “HMP Manchester will continue to collaborate with GMP’s prison crime specialist and Operation Cairo to prevent controlled drugs entering the prison.
“There is growing evidence of carefully organised attempts to traffic drugs into prisons, with great efforts made by criminals to overcome improved security measures in order to exploit the potential profits to be made in doing so.
WAR ON DRUGS: Many of the drugs ceased are particularly potent
“The availability of illicit drugs in our prisons impacts greatly on prison life and can lead to violence and intimidation of both prisoners and their family members outside the prison. HMP Manchester and our partners in GMP will make every effort to prevent such criminal activity.”
Det Insp Boden added: “These drugs are often openly sold in premises and are packaged up in such a way to give them an air of authenticity.
“However, the ingredients – which are shipped in from abroad – can have the same harmful effects of more well-known drugs so I want to assure people that we are aware of these substances and we are working very hard to target those who sell them.
The swoop was the latest action by Operation Cairo – a specialised police unit that deals specifically with the arrest of those involved in the dealing of drugs.
