Three crime gangs are involved in a bitter drugs and gun war…it started when dealers clashed, now things are personal – a young man was shot in the street last night

Three crime gangs are involved in a bitter drugs and gun war.

For a year, there have been tit-for-tat shootings and machete attacks between two gangs based in Cheetham Hill.

But after an escalation in violence in the last four weeks, police now believe a third outfit – from Salford – is also involved.

The root cause of the initial dispute, which began in September last year, was the control of the supply of crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis.

It is now being fuelled by new tensions caused by personal vendettas and gangland feuds.

The violence reached new heights last night (Tuesday) when a 27-year-old man was shot in Manton Close, in Salford, at 11pm.

At first, it was thought he had suffered life-threatening injuries.

He was ambushed on the cul-de-sac. Up to five shots were fired. His condition has since improved.

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GMP launched Operation Haemus in 2019 to tackle the Cheetham Hill war, which began when the windscreen of a car was blasted by a gunman on Spender Avenue.

Two men were shot in the legs in November in an afternoon drive-by shooting in Cheetham Hill Road. A teenager was left with potentially life-changing injuries after being shot on Spender Avenue in January.

There was a lull in the violence during the summer, but the intense feud has again exploded.

Following three more recent firearms incidents – one on September 6 on Murray Street; a second on September 12 on Heath Street; and the shooting last night – police have widened the scope of Operation Haemus.

Intelligence suggest the most recent incidents involve one of the Cheetham Hill crime groups and another group from Salford.

Cops are now ‘focusing on the criminal activity of the three local crime groups and the various ongoing disputes between these groups’.

So far, officers have made over 25 arrests and executed several warrants.

The latest development means officers from Manchester will work closely with officers from GMP’s Salford division in a bid to disrupt the gangs and end the violence.

Manchester and Salford councils will assist, with children’s services staff drafted in, in a bid to stop teenagers on the periphery of the violence getting caught up in it.

GMP’s Superintendent Rebecca Boyce said: “We’re continuing to be really open and honest with the public about this operation and the challenges we’re facing.

“This is a complex investigation which brings together several elements and we are working hard to build on intelligence and disrupt any activity.

“Lately we have seen an escalation of violence, spreading out of the Cheetham Hil area and across the Salford border.

“We have acted on this escalation and are working closely with police colleagues in Salford, sharing intelligence and strengthening our resources.

“We have launched a dedicated and specialised disruption hub in North Manchester which will be working solely on this operation.

“This compliments the existing hub in Salford.

“Alongside this work we will continue with high visibility patrolling in the area, as well as implementing a range of covert tactics.

“A key part of our response to Operation Haemus also continues to be prevention and we have a range of partners including adults and children’s services in both local authorities, who are supporting us with this.

“We know that these tit-for-tat incidents are targeted and are occurring between different organised crime groups. Yet clearly, we understand and recognise that there is a level of risk associated with this kind of dispute.

“What we don’t want is for an innocent member of the public to be hurt as they get caught in this reckless cross-fire.

“As we have said before however, we cannot do this alone and I would really urge with information to please get in touch with us as a matter of absolute urgency.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 856 61146, quoting incident number 3634 of September 15 – or ‘Operation Haemus’.

Reports can also be made via Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111