Six men are charged with drug and modern slavery offences in connection with Rochdale child exploitation probe

Police investigating alleged child exploitation in Rochdale have today charged six men with drug and modern slavery crimes.

They are each facing two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, one of being concerned in the supply of class B drugs and four relating to modern slavery offences.

All six have been remanded in custody to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court later today.

Greater Manchester Police this morning announced the 42 charges in total against Azaad Ali, 26, Harris Ali, 19, Aadam Ali Sajjad, 18, Abdullah Talib, 19, Subhan Khan, 18, and Zain Abbas, 18.

The force said: 'GMP Rochdale secure 42 charges in connection with child exploitation investigation.' 

The men were arrested yesterday morning as homes were raided in Rochdale. 

Greater Manchester Police's Sergeant Mark Lutkevitch told yesterday of 'a longstanding investigation into several organised crime groups operating across Rochdale that we strongly believe are involved in the exploitation of young people'.