Morning raids in north Manchester in the early hours of yesterday morning (November 29) saw “thousands of illegal medicines” seized, leading to one man being arrested.

The raids, which were carried out by the MHRA’s criminal enforcement unit (CEU) and Greater Manchester Police (GMP), took place across two residential addresses in Oldham and Cheetham, as well as two business addresses in Bury and Miles Platting.

Thousands of illegal doses of medicine were seized from the business addresses “including powerful opioid painkillers and antidepressants, as well as unlicensed versions of erectile dysfunction drugs,” said the MRHA.

The residential raids saw a man in his 20s arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, breaches of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and money laundering.

Jen Kelly, detective chief inspector of GMP’s Operation Vulcan commented: “The MHRA has been a dedicated partner of operation Vulcan in helping to tackle the supply of illicit prescription medication in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester. 

“This was a key problem that Operation Vulcan has worked hard to tackle and over the last year we have seized over 1.5 million tablets.

“Today was therefore an opportunity to support our partners in turn and tackle the illicit supply elsewhere. We see first-hand the harmful and sadly even fatal consequences that illicit prescription medication can have.

“I would urge anyone with information about illicit supply to share it with your local police force so they can act on it and keep your community safe.”

MHRA deputy criminal enforcement director Andy Morling said: “Medicines like these are powerful and dangerous in the wrong hands, potentially leading to serious adverse health conditions.

“The criminals trading in these products are not only breaking the law, they also have no regard for your safety.”

Mr Morling told the public the CEU “will continue working to protect your health by disrupting this harmful and illegal trade”.