MILLIONS of pounds worth of pharmaceutical drugs have been seized after police raids this morning.

Six men have been arrested after police carried out warrants in Bury, Cheetham Hill and Ashton.

As well as the arrests, police seized several million pounds worth of pharmaceutical drugs which were due to be sold illegally online.

Among the properties raided was an office in Ela Mill, in Wash Lane, Bury, where a 54-year-old man, from Ainsworth, was arrested.

The raids were part of Operation Pyarr, an investigation into a multi-million pound international fraud operation.

The investigation has been carried out by the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority who are responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices are acceptably safe, in conjunction with Bury Police and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Police also raided K's Korsets, a lingerie shop in Cheetham Hill, and arrested four men outside – three from Ashton, aged 18, 25 and 53 and another from Oldham.

A 54-year-old man was also arrested inside the shop.A raid was also carried out at a self-storage facility in Manchester.

The drugs seized include sleeping tablets such as Diazepam and Zopiclone.

All six men were arrested on suspicion of supplying Class C drugs and remain in police custody for questioning.

Detective Chief Inspector Charlotte Cadden of GMP’s Bury Borough, said: “We have spent the past few months identifying where the public are able to get hold of these controlled drugs, and uncovering who is responsible.

“From our investigation, it is clear that this is a comprehensive operation, with genuine pharmaceuticals being unlawfully removed from the supply chain in the UK and then sold, illegally, online.

“While we have made arrests, we are continuing with our investigation and are committed to finding those who facilitate the supply of illegal substances in Greater Manchester.

“I’m asking for the public to continue to report anything suspicious to the police, and ensure that we can look after the public who are taken in by drugs that they believe are legal.”

The mill's landlord said that he was aware of the operation and was offering police his continued cooperation. 

He added that other businesses in the mill are unaffected.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.