Officers burst into a number of homes and properties across the borough this morning as part of Operation AVRO - a Greater Manchester Police forcewide initiative where a particular area of the region is flooded with police resources each month. Police said 'large quantities of drugs' were seized during the raids.
Officers also uncovered a suspected cannabis farm in the Weaste area. 35 people have been arrested so far, Greater Manchester Police said.Details on the suspected offences have not been released at this stage. The operation will continue into the afternoon, with a traffic operation underway in Little Hulton.
Police said 'several motorists' have already been stopped and arrested for speeding and traffic offences. GMP's mounted unit will also be patrolling the area this afternoon, with officers visiting local schools to speak to students. Chief Inspector Simon Ashcroft, of our Salford district, said: "Operation AVRO is in full swing across the city of Salford. You will see increased patrols in the area, high visibility operations, a significant shoplifting and retail theft operation targeting theft from stores, identifying and bringing offenders of those types of crimes to justice.
"Ongoing throughout the day you will see this continuing, so please don’t be alarmed, please feel free to approach the officers, engage with them, have that conversation – they are here to engage with the community, they are your local officers and they want to speak to you."