Two men arrested on suspicion of possession of weapons and drugs in Trafford

Officers from GMP’s Operation Venture tactical team were deployed to the Trafford area.

Patrols conducted disruption visits on five key nominals linked to violent crime in the Trafford district.

They had sighted a black Ford Focus which had made off from officers. They identified the vehicle with links to drug dealing and occupants in possession of machetes.

The vehicle was covertly followed by a plain police vehicle. There were two occupants inside who were seen on the phone.

As patrols arrived, a reinforced stop was put on the vehicle. The front seat passenger, a 17-year-old boy, ran from the car towards Old Trafford.

Officers conducted a foot chase and the boy tried to throw a large machete in the bushes, which was recovered by other officers.

After a short scuffle he was detained for a stop search. Officers found a further lock knife and numerous snap bags of cannabis and white powder suspected to be cocaine and mobile phones consistent with drugs supply.

Both the passenger and driver of the vehicle, an 18-year-old man, were stop searched and arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article, possession of an offensive weapon and possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs.

A search of the car located 15 boxes of psychoactive substance. Both males were further arrested for possession with intent to supply a psychoactive substance.

Inspector Jon Ezard, of GMP's Operation Venture team, said: “This result is due to the work of our diligent Operation Venture officers. 

“It appears the men were linked to a new drugs line which has recently been set up and have been offering testers out in the area.

“Both arrested males have previously been arrested in the last two months in possession of machetes.

"This result shows that our approach in tackling serious violence and knife crime across Greater Manchester is working."