A series of dawn raids have “ripped a hole” in what was thought to be a family-run organised crime gang, making 21 arrests linked to drug dealing and modern slavery offences.
The police action was launched at 05:00 GMT, targeting homes in Salford, Manchester, Rochdale, Tameside, Bury, Wigan and Bolton along with raids in Merseyside and Wales later in the morning, Greater Manchester Police said.
Det Supt Joe Harrop said the use of children, some as young as 12, to sell drugs such as heroin, cocaine and cannabis for the gangs was a “stain on our communities”.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson, who was among the officers joining the raids, said those involved in such offending “deserve everything that’s coming to them”.