In a surprising turn of events, three individuals have been apprehended in connection to a raid conducted at an abattoir. Law enforcement officers took action by forcibly entering the premises located on Higher Bury Street in Stockport on a Thursday. Concurrently, another search warrant was executed at a residential address on Merlin Road in Blackburn, Lancashire.
Two suspects, a man and a woman both in their thirties, were taken into custody on suspicion of human trafficking as well as the offense of slavery, servitude, and forced or compulsory labor. Additionally, a male individual also in his thirties was arrested at the abattoir following an attempted escape from police. He was apprehended while attempting to flee the scene and hide on a nearby rooftop, as confirmed by the Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
According to GMP, the individual was an Albanian national residing and working illegally in the UK. The police further disclosed that he was being processed by immigration teams from the Home Office. The police were informed by a male complainant that he was allegedly coerced to reside in the abattoir and work incessantly to pay off exorbitant debts associated with a sponsorship visa and travel expenses.
During the late-night raid, the investigative team interviewed 30 workers present on-site and confiscated mobile devices, computer equipment, and various documents as part of their ongoing inquiries. Detective Sergeant Lee Attenborough emphasized the prevalence of modern slavery in Greater Manchester and urged anyone who has fallen victim to this heinous crime or suspects someone else may be a victim to come forward and report it.
He reassured the public that all reports would be taken seriously, and assistance and protection would be provided. For more updates, stay tuned to the latest broadcasts of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds, and engage with BBC Manchester on social media platforms such as Facebook, X, and Instagram. Also, catch up on the latest news by watching BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
For further information on this developing story and related issues, you can visit the website of Greater Manchester Police.
