Further contraband items were seized after a second crackdown in five months against criminals operating inside a Salford prison.

Five cells of prime suspects have been targeted in an attempt to disrupt the activities of organized crime gang members.

Seven packages intended to be thrown on the prison walls were intercepted.

In one package were three cell phones, eight SIM cards, cannabis worth £ 800 and tobacco.

In April, cell phones, steroids, SIM cards and contraband electricity were found during a police operation targeting the cells of senior gang members at Forest Bank Prison in Agecroft.

Tobacco, cigarette papers, cannabis, spice lined paper, lighters and screwdrivers were also found.

In the operation, cells were searched at 4 a.m. by prison officers working on Greater Manchester Police intelligence on those at the top of organized crime groups.

Phones are used to organize criminal empires from inside the prison, intimidate witnesses and potentially prepare for escapes.

They are also used to plan contraband contraband, which includes using visitors to bring in items or arranging drug-laden tennis balls or other packages to be thrown over the perimeter walls.

Operation Dragonfire was launched after an increase in the number of “phone throws”, where cell phones are thrown at prison walls.

In a seven-day operation by police and prison officials that ran from Monday September 20 to Sunday September 26, 10 phones were seized, along with SIM cards, cannabis and tobacco.

Intelligence was gathered on those suspected of carrying out criminal activity within Forest Bank, which led to a series of targeted cell searches earlier this week.

Five cells were targeted, which led to the discovery of seven phones and a USB drive that went to forensics.

Following the cell searches, a series of tactics were used to target those responsible for throwing illicit objects over the prison walls from outside.

One was opened and contained phones, SIM cards and cannabis.

The remaining six packages were submitted to forensics for further investigation.

Detective Superintendent Danny Inglis, Head of Serious and Organized Crime at Greater Manchester Police, said: “Operation Dragonfire activity is vital.

“Access to cell phones can allow inmates to continue to be part of organized criminal groups, empowering them to coordinate crime inside and outside prison.

“This can compromise security and pose a risk to fellow inmates, prison staff and the general public.

“The operation required a lot of planning and hard work and the amount of contraband recovered, as well as the successful arrest, underscores the impact of this targeted activity.

“We believe the positive results of the week will lead to a reduction in organized criminal activity and violent incidents within the prison, and we look forward to seeing future results as we continue to work collaboratively with the prison.

“I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate to those involved that communicating with prisoners using illegal cell phones is a criminal offense. The activity conducted this week should serve as a stark warning that we have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior and anyone involved in such activity will be arrested and prosecuted. “

Ian Whiteside, Director of HMP Forest Bank, said: “The illegal use of cell phones is one of the most significant security threats facing prisons and we are constantly reviewing our activity to address the issue at HMP Forest. Bank.

“Multi-agency operations like Dragonfire are having a huge impact and we will continue to work intensively with our colleagues at GMP and HMPPS to disrupt organized crime networks that undermine prison discipline and security. “