A ‘family-run’ drug empire that forced disadvantaged kids as young as 12 into slavery has been hit by police who raided more than 20 homes believed to be involved in the crime ring.

More than 250 officers were involved in raids of 22 homes across Manchester, Salford, Merseyside and Wales in a bid to take down the drug ring. 

Officers arrested 23 people, including six boys aged 13 to 17, with the rest being adult men.

They were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences including conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs, modern day slavery offences and robbery.

Drugs including cocaine and ketamine were also seized along with £3,000 in cash, eight Rolex watches, other valuables worth more than £40,000, and imitation firearms, knives and tasers.

A caravan in a rundown Salford car park believed to have been used as a  headquarters for the the ‘family-run’ organised crime group was also seized.

The raids, conducted under the codename Operation Copenhagen, came after six months of planning from Greater Manchester Police with homes thought to be involved in drug-running, money-laundering and child slavery.

It is also believed they were involved in violence and robberies committed against rival firms as ‘taxes’ for encroaching on their turf. 

More than 250 officers were involved in raids of 22 homes across Manchester, Salford, Merseyside and Wales in a bid to take down the crime ring

The Operation Copenhagen raids came after six months of planning from Greater Manchester Police with homes thought to be involved in drug-running, money-laundering and child slavery

Officers arrested 23 people, with six boys aged 13 to 17 among them, and the rest men on suspicion of a range of offences including conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs, modern day slavery offences and robbery

Eleven of the arrests were made across Manchester, with four in Salford, two in Wigan, one in Rochdale, one in Bury and one in Bolton. 

Two arrests were also made in Merseyside and one arrest in south Wales. 

Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop, who leads the Serious Organised Crime Division, told the Sun that the group is understood to ‘exploit kids as slaves’ and have ‘groomed some as young as 12’. 

The group are are known to prey on under-age children in poor areas, recruiting them for running drugs and then enslaving them using violence to make them feel they cannot escape.

Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop: ‘Today’s operation has been a powerful example of our continued, determined effort to dismantle organised crime in our region.

‘We now have 23 people in custody; all linked to a family-run organised crime group that have been causing widespread harm across our communities. 

‘Their criminal enterprise has been significantly disrupted and today marks a major step towards completely dismantling their operation.

‘During the execution of 22 warrants across Greater Manchester and Liverpool this morning, officers weapons, drugs, suspected criminally gained cash, and even a caravan believed to have been used as the headquarters of their operation.

‘The exploitation of children and the supply of drugs will never be tolerated. 

‘The individuals we have arrested today we believe have brought significant harm, particularly to the City of Manchester and Salford.

‘Our job isn’t over, and while this operation has been six months in the planning, we will carry on with our relentless action for as long as is necessary, and until organised crime groups are dismantled.

‘We still have persons of interest that we want to lock up, so let this be a message to you: we will come for you, and we will find you.’

Drugs including cocaine and ketamine were also seized along with £3,000 cash, eight Rolex watches, other valuables worth more than £40,000, and imitation firearms, knives and tasers

The Operation Copenhagen raids came after six months of planning from Greater Manchester Police with homes thought to be involved in drug-running, money-laundering and child slavery

It is also believed they were involved in violence and robberies committed against rival firms as ‘taxes’ for encroaching on their turf

A caravan in a rundown Salford car park believed to have been used as headquarters for the the ‘family-run’ organised crime group was also seized

Speaking to the media, Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said: ‘We believe that they are involved in criminality at the highest level and are profiting from that.

‘Their method of operation is to exploit vulnerable people, young people, and, frankly, simply to cast them off when they get caught up, as people lower down the chain frequently are.

‘So, this is a really significant operation, targeted towards some people who, frankly, deserve everything that’s coming to them.

‘It’s going to make a difference, and it’s going to rip a hole in organised crime across Greater Manchester beyond.’

It comes after two men from Manchester were charged with drugs offences last month after police seized a record £24million of cannabis at a rural farm.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police made the discovery after executing a warrant at Leigh Tenement Farm in Blackrod, Bolton, on January 9.

It is believed to be one of the largest single cannabis seizures ever made in the UK.

Around two tonnes of cannabis, with a street value of around £24million, was discovered inside the unit.

Musa Kala, 35, and Raheem Latif, 27, were both been charged with conspiracy to supply the Class B drug.