Manchester police seize £70,000 and gun in gang-linked raids 2026

Key Points

• Greater Manchester Police carried out eight arrests at premises in Moss Side, Levenshulme, Moston and Harpurhey on 1 October 2026.
• Four men, who are in their 20s and 30s, have been arrested on suspicion of firearms and drugs offences.
• According to Greater Manchester Police, £70,000 cash, samurai sword, cocaine, MDMA, one working semi-automatic weapon and rounds were recovered.
• All the four men who were arrested have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
• The investigation started when an aggravated burglary case was reported in Whalley Range in May.
• Class A drugs worth around £20,000, one viable firearm and rounds were recovered by the police in connection with the case on 18 May.
• The police managed to trace eight people believed to be part of an organised crime gang involved in trafficking of class A drugs throughout Manchester.
• In addition, five males were wanted and later reported to the police for questioning.
• “Thanks to our intelligence and enquiries, this operation prevented dangerous weapons and illegal drugs from coming into circulation in our communities,” Detective Constable Katie Havens said.

Manchester Police (Manchester Mirror) October 16, 2026 – Police have raided eight homes across Manchester as part of an investigation into a suspected organised crime group linked to the supply of class A drugs.

Greater Manchester Police said officers executed warrants at addresses in Moss Side, Levenshulme, Moston and Harpurhey on 1 October 2026. As reported by the Bury Times, the force said the searches resulted in the arrest of four men, aged in their 20s and 30s, on suspicion of firearms and drugs offences.

According to Greater Manchester Police, officers recovered £70,000 in cash, a samurai sword and class A drugs consisting of cocaine and MDMA. A viable semi-automatic firearm and rounds were also seized during the operation.

The Manchester Evening News reported that the raids followed the identification of suspects with alleged gang links. Police said eight individuals were suspected of being part of an organised crime group involved in the supply of class A drugs across Manchester.

All four men arrested during the warrants have been bailed pending further enquiries. Greater Manchester Police has not named the suspects and no charges have been announced in connection with the October raids.

Why did police carry out the raids?

The investigation began after an aggravated burglary was reported at an address in Whalley Range in May.

As reported by the Bury Times, officers from the City of Manchester Central neighbourhood response team attended the property on 18 May. Police said they recovered class A drugs estimated to be worth around £20,000, as well as a viable firearm and rounds.

The investigation was then passed to the City of Manchester Central and South Challenger teams. These units investigate serious and organised crime.

During the investigation, Greater Manchester Police said it identified eight individuals suspected of being involved in an organised crime group allegedly supplying class A drugs across Manchester. Challenger officers then carried out the eight warrants on 1 October.

Which police teams took part?

The operation involved Challenger officers supported by several specialist and neighbourhood teams.

Greater Manchester Police said the warrants were carried out with support from:

• Neighbourhood Tasking Teams
• Neighbourhood Crime Teams
• Xcalibre
• The Tactical Aid Unit
• The dog unit

The force did not provide a breakdown of how many officers took part in the 1 October operation, nor did it confirm the exact addresses searched.

What did police say after the seizures?

Detective Constable Katie Havens, from Greater Manchester Police’s City of Manchester South Challenger team, said the force had executed eight warrants and arrested four men as part of a proactive investigation.

As reported by the Bury Times, Detective Constable Havens said: “We executed eight warrants and arrested four men in relation to a proactive investigation and recovered a significant amount of cash.

“These warrants alongside the previous finds at addresses in May have prevented dangerous weapons and illegal drugs from reaching our streets.

“This was a substantial discovery and as we progress with this investigation, we will continue to target those involved in serious and organised crime to keep our communities safe for all those who live and work across the whole of Greater Manchester.”

She added that the force relies on information from the public and takes all information received seriously. Greater Manchester Police asked anyone concerned about suspicious activity to contact police on 101, use the Live Chat function on its website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Were more people involved?

Yes. Greater Manchester Police said that, after the warrants, a further five males were circulated as wanted and later handed themselves in to police for further questioning.

The force did not say whether those five males were arrested, charged or released. It also did not confirm whether they were among the eight individuals initially identified during the investigation.

No further details have been released about the suspected organised crime group, including its alleged area of operation beyond Manchester or the suspected scale of its drug supply activity.

What has Greater Manchester Police said about firearms?

The latest seizures came as Greater Manchester Police highlighted its wider work to remove weapons from the region.

According to the Bury Times, the force said it recovered 86 firearms from Greater Manchester’s streets between April 2024 and April 2025. It said a further 64 firearms were recovered between April 2025 and April 2026.

Greater Manchester Police also said there had been a significant reduction in firearms discharges, with 16 recorded between April 2025 and April 2026.

The force did not state whether the firearm seized during the October raids was connected to any earlier firearms incidents.

What happens next in the investigation?

The investigation remains ongoing. Greater Manchester Police said the four men arrested on 1 October have been bailed while enquiries continue.

Police have not confirmed whether the five males who handed themselves in remain under investigation, whether further arrests are expected, or whether the Crown Prosecution Service has been contacted about any potential charges.

The seized cash, firearm, rounds, drugs and samurai sword remain part of the police investigation. No court proceedings connected to the October warrants have been confirmed publicly.

Background of the development

The operation followed a report of an aggravated burglary at a Whalley Range address in May 2026. When officers attended on 18 May, they recovered class A drugs estimated to be worth about £20,000, along with a viable firearm and rounds.

That discovery led to a handover to Greater Manchester Police’s City of Manchester Central and South Challenger teams, which focus on serious and organised crime. Police later identified eight suspects they believed were connected to an organised crime group allegedly supplying class A drugs across Manchester.

The October warrants were the latest stage of that investigation. They resulted in four arrests and the recovery of £70,000 in cash, cocaine, MDMA, a samurai sword, a viable semi-automatic firearm and rounds.

Prediction: How this development can affect Manchester residents

For Manchester residents, the operation may increase confidence that police are acting against suspected organised crime and drug supply in neighbourhoods including Moss Side, Levenshulme, Moston and Harpurhey.

The removal of a viable firearm, ammunition and class A drugs could reduce immediate risks associated with weapons and drug-related activity. However, the investigation is ongoing and the suspects have been bailed rather than charged, so residents should treat the outcome as unresolved at this stage.

The case may also encourage more residents to report suspicious activity. Greater Manchester Police has stressed that public information plays a role in its investigations and has provided several reporting routes, including 101, its website Live Chat function and Crimestoppers.