Salford man jailed after major drugs bust linked to Manchester's "chemsex" scene
Police say a well-known drugs line has stopped operating since his arrest
A man from Salford has been jailed for five years after admitting sixteen drug supply offences, following a Greater Manchester Police investigation into the region's chemsex drugs market.
Cairo Taylor, 29, of Elmira Way in Salford, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, 25th September 2026, having previously pleaded guilty to the offences, which relate to the supply of Class A and Class B drugs.
The sentencing follows a warrant carried out by officers at two properties in Salford on 8th May 2026, as part of Greater Manchester Police's Operation Eastnor.
Operation Eastnor forms part of the force's wider work with partners and LGBTQ+ communities to raise awareness of chemsex-related harm, encourage reporting and safeguard people who may be vulnerable or at risk.
During early morning raids at the two properties, officers recovered significant quantities of drugs, including crystal methamphetamine and ketamine.
They also seized a twenty-litre barrel containing a chemical substance believed to have been used to produce and enhance drugs.
The chemical was seized for forensic examination before being safely disposed of.
Two men, both 29, were arrested during the operation, and Taylor was later charged with the sixteen offences.
No further action was taken against the second man arrested.
Police estimate the street value of the drugs seized from the two properties at between £150,000 and £200,000.
According to Greater Manchester Police, the investigation found evidence that Taylor was operating at a high level, identifying him as a prominent supplier within Manchester's chemsex scene, supplying substances associated with high-risk sexual activity and exploitation.
Officers said analysis of mobile phone data seized during the investigation showed messages and materials indicating Taylor had been trying to chemically alter and improve the quality of drugs before supplying them.
How the investigation unfolded
Sergeant Adam Culpan, of GMP's City Centre Violence Reduction and Exploitation team, said the investigation had caused "a significant disruption to the supply of harmful drugs within Greater Manchester's community".
"The analysis we made found that Taylor was effectively running a drugs laboratory, and since his arrest a well-known drugs line has ceased operating," he said.
"This is an extremely uncommon outcome in large-scale drugs investigations where supply networks are often quickly replaced."
He said the substances involved "present serious risks to health and wellbeing and can leave people vulnerable to exploitation, serious injury and even death".
"The warrants carried out in May resulted in substantial recoveries, removing harmful substances from circulation and dismantling what we believe was a key supply line into Manchester," Sergeant Culpan said.
"Taylor's guilty pleas reflect the strength of the evidence gathered by officers throughout this investigation. We hope this sentence sends a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue those who profit from supplying dangerous drugs and causing harm within our communities."
Reaction from police and support services
City of Manchester Central Superintendent Nicola Williams said Operation Eastnor, created in March 2025, had adopted "a problem-solving and partnership-led approach", bringing together policing, public health, healthcare providers, community groups, academics and third-sector organisations to reduce harm and improve safeguarding.
"It has achieved significant results through proactive enforcement and prevention activity, including safeguarding vulnerable individuals, disrupting organised criminality, targeting those responsible for sexual offences and drug supply, and increasing awareness of chemsex-related risks across GMP and partner agencies," she said.
She added that officers and staff had received targeted training to improve their understanding of and confidence in identifying and responding to chemsex-related harm.
"The sentencing given today is another step towards our work to disrupt organised criminality associated with this harm and ensure vulnerable people are safeguarded," Superintendent Williams said.
Duncan Craig OBE, chief executive of We Are Survivors, which delivers the ChemSex harm reduction project alongside George House Trust, said he wanted to thank Superintendent Williams and her team "for engaging with us in developing understanding of the harms associated with ChemSex activity with the aim of keeping people safe".
Anyone with information about drug supply, or who has concerns, is being urged to contact Greater Manchester Police on 101, online via the GMP website, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.