In the early hours of yesterday, officers from the South Rural Task Force responded to reports of poaching in the Coppull area.
On arrival, officers stopped a vehicle on Bradley Lane, Standish.
Following a search, a number of items, including thermal scopes, hunting lamps, and call whistles were discovered and seized along with the vehicle under the Hunting Act.
Five men, aged between, 18 and 37 from the Wigan area were detained for wildlife offences.
Op Galileo is a national operation to tackle hare coursing and poaching co-ordinated by The National Wildlife Crime Unit.
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