A CRACKDOWN on organised crime has resulted in £7.5 million worth of drugs being seized and more than 700 arrests across the county.

Greater Manchester Police's 14-month assault on organised criminality, named Operation Challenger, has also featured the seizure of £1.4 million in cash, as well as 49 vehicles, guns and stolen goods since it was launched in January last year.

The operation saw police work alongside councils, probation, immigration and the emergency services to detect and disrupt criminality, as well as protect vulnerable people and those at risk of becoming victims of organised crime.

As part of the operation, sham marriages, human trafficking and other forms of immigration crime have been targeted due to co-operation between immigration enforcement officers and police assigned to the team.

In addition, an illegal money lending team has worked with police to target loan sharks and educate the community.

Environmental health teams and the fire service have conducted inspections to investigate potential safety issues, ensuring regulations are adhered to, with successful convictions and thousands of pounds in fines.

The operation, covering Bury and the other 10 police divisions in Greater Manchester, has also seen 17 specially trained community support officers embedded within the community, to help prevent crime and work with residents to address their concerns.

In total, 670 people were arrested under the operation, and those who received custodial sentences were been given a total of more than 400 years behind bars.

Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe said: “Alongside the traditional enforcement around criminal activity, there is now a focused effort around reducing vulnerability and disrupting serious and organised crime.

“We continue to use policing powers and enforce the law but the approach under Challenger has seen a shift in focus, working with partners to identify and protect the most vulnerable who are at risk to exploitation by organised criminals.

“The police force may not always be the most appropriate agency to intervene, and the benefit of Challenger is that the right people will be working alongside us to guarantee the best outcome for everyone involved.”

She added: “We are committed to ridding Greater Manchester of organised crime and we hope that the success of recent months and continuous work of Challenger within communities reflects this.”