Greater Manchester police say three more people arrested under Operation Green Jacket
It comes after three other men were arrested as part of the investigation
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Three men have been arrested on suspicion of rape of a girl under 16 as detectives continue to investigate child sexual exploitation under the Operation Green Jacket inquiry.
Greater Manchester Police said one man, 41, had also been arrested on suspicion of indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 16, on suspicion of causing the prostitution of a girl under 16 and the supply of Class A and B drugs.
The second, a 49-year-old man, was also arrested on suspicion of indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 16. The pair remain in custody.
The third man, 38, was arrested last month on suspicion of the rape of a female under 16 and supplying a Class A drug. He was bailed pending further enquiries.
The arrests all relate to separate victims as part of the operation.
In total, six men have been arrested as part of Operation Green Jacket and enquiries are ongoing, the force said.
Assistant chief constable Mabs Hussain said in addition to the inquiry there are 73 live investigations which are ongoing and in relation to child sexual exploitation.
They involve multiple victims or perpetrators across Greater Manchester.
A total of 480 victims have been identified so far in the investigation and police are assessing more than 650 perpetrators.
He added: "Since January this year, a total of 54 individuals have been prosecuted for child sexual exploitation offences resulting in 120 years' of custodial sentences.
"A further 13 individuals have been convicted and are awaiting sentencing and ten others have been charged and are awaiting trial. These prosecutions have been achieved amidst the backdrop of a global pandemic which has brought challenges to the criminal justice system.
“Whilst we have made further arrests, Operation Green Jacket is continuing and I would encourage anyone affected by the case, requiring support or with information that could assist our investigation to get in touch via the dedicated email address.”
Operation Green Jacket is multi-agency investigation into child exploitation during 2004 and 2005. It was launched in May 2018 and included a new probe into the death of 15-year-old Victoria Agoglia.
The teenager, who had reported to the police that she had been raped, died after being injected with heroin in 2003.
Miss Agoglia was one of the victims involved in the latest arrests, Greater Manchester Police said.
Anyone who has been affected by the case and wishes to speak to police, or anyone with information that could assist with enquiries, can contact the investigation team via opgreenjacket@gmp.police.uk.