Teen with 116 bags of Spice arrested in Piccadilly Gardens

At 11:47 am the 16-year-old was found with the 116 snap bags, and was detained on suspicion of possession of psychoactive substances with intent to supply. He remains in custody.

City centre Insp. Phil Spurgeon said the 16-year-old was found with 116 snap bags of the potent synthetic drug, formerly a ‘legal high’.

This incident comes under the Police’s Operation Mandera, which is a new initiative to crack down on drug dealing in Piccadilly Gardens.

Two drug dealers were today sentenced in court after being arrested as part of the operation.

Momodou Gaye, 29, of Broomfield Avenue, Middleton, was convicted of one count of possessing cannabis with intent to supply following an incident in Church Street, on 16th October last year.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

And Mohammed Jama, 24, of South Grove, Longsight, was convicted of a single count of supplying cannabis in Piccadilly Gardens on 20th August last year.

He was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for two years, and must complete 100 hours of community service.

“This is probably the most important public space in the city centre and it’s absolutely right we keep it a safe space for the decent majority.”

The council’s city centre spokesman Coun Pat Karney said: “I’m looking at kids playing in the playground and you can see how important it is to protect people from these idiots who are dealing.

“If you come down and deal here you will be caught, be put before the courts and hopefully be put in jail and today reinforces that.”

The incident follows Manchester council announcement that they will be tearing down Piccadilly Gardens’ ‘Berlin Wall’ with the area to be redeveloped in a £10 million project.