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Police Mount Major Crackdown on Organised Crime Gang Exploiting Children From Age 12
Greater Manchester, UK — A significant police operation has seen law enforcement officers execute dawn raids and arrest several suspects believed to be part of an organised crime gang that systematically exploited children, some reportedly as young as 12, in criminal activity across the North West.
In the early hours of 18 February 2026, officers from the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Serious Crime Division, supported by specialist units from across the region, carried out 22 warrants in and around Greater Manchester, Salford, Merseyside and Wales. In total, 23 individuals were taken into custody in what authorities described as a “day of action” against serious and organised crime.
Children Targeted as “Runners” and Exploited by Gang
Police allege that the network at the centre of the investigation was involved in a range of serious offences, including county-lines drug trafficking, robbery and modern-day slavery offences, with vulnerable youths trafficked and groomed to act as couriers and distributors.
Six boys aged between 13 and 17 were arrested alongside adult suspects — evidence, police say, of a deliberate strategy by gang leaders to use minors for risky criminal tasks that would attract shorter sentences if caught. Gang members reportedly coerced younger children into running drugs and cash on their behalf, taking advantage of social vulnerabilities and isolation.
According to GMP leadership, the use of children as young as 12 in criminal enterprises is among the worst examples of child exploitation officers have confronted, prompting swift action to dismantle the group and safeguard the affected youngsters.
Weapons, Drugs and Cash Seized
Alongside arrests, officers seized class A and B drugs, a quantity of cash, weapons and high-value items believed to be proceeds of crime. Investigators also uncovered evidence linking the gang to violent incidents and firearms-related offences in surrounding areas.
The scale of the operation — involving over 250 officers — underscores the force’s commitment to tackling organised crime and protecting vulnerable people from exploitation. A GMP spokesman said the action formed part of wider efforts to disrupt county-lines networks that have increasingly preyed on young people.
Police and Community Response
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson emphasised that the raids were intended to both remove dangerous offenders from the streets and send a clear message that using children in criminal networks will not be tolerated.
“We are determined to protect vulnerable young people from being drawn into a life of crime,” Sir Stephen said in a press briefing. He urged families and community members to report suspicious activity and highlighted continuing support services for affected youths. Experts note that gangs often recruit children through social media and local networks, offering quick cash and a false sense of belonging before trapping them in cycles of exploitation and violence.
Broader Context: Child Exploitation in Gang Crime
The Greater Manchester raids come amid a growing national concern over child criminal exploitation — particularly through county-lines drug networks — where gangs deliberately target vulnerable children as “runners” because they are less likely to be stopped and risk lighter legal consequences. National police strategy documents show that children as young as 12 to 18 are regularly exploited across the UK in this way.
Campaigners continue to call for stronger preventative measures, better youth support services and enhanced community policing to disrupt recruitment and support children at risk before they become embroiled in serious crime.
Attached is a news article regarding police crackdown on organised crime gang using children as young as 12
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgj7w8ngqqo
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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