Rochdale Drugs Ring 'Smashed'

5 February 2013, 16:15 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Greater Manchester Police says its broken up a major drugs ring in Rochdale, seizing drugs worth a quarter of a million pounds.

Capital's been told senior dealer Aadil Ahmed, 30, from Sparthfield Avenue, is now in prison after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Another member of the ring, 31-year-old Grant Hartley, is also behind bars after pleading guilty to the same charge.

Police say Ahmed was thought to be a local drugs wholesaler, selling at street level, with a business operating under the name 'Saj'.

But after a 2-year operation police say they've effectively broken up his empire, seizing loads of luxury cars and more than £5,300 in cash.

PC Gabriel Gibson, Investigating Officer, said: "Today is the result of painstaking police work by officers to unmask this drugs ring and bring one of Rochdale's most senior drug dealers to justice.
 
"The successful prosecution of Ahmed is an absolutely fantastic result for the communities of Rochdale and means a man who persistently flooded the streets of Rochdale with crack cocaine and heroin can no longer do any more damage.
 
"When we talk about seizing three-quarters-of-a-million pounds worth of drugs, in real terms what that means is that we have effectively stopped literally scores of drugs from getting into the hands of hardened drug addicts.

"The positive effect that will have in Rochdale is immeasurable.
 
"Everyone is well aware of the corrosive effects of drugs and that they can kill people, but sometimes what is forgotten is that drug addicts often result to burglaries and robberies to fund their addictions, victimising innocent people just to satisfy their need for drugs.
 
"It is people like Ahmed who are responsible for creating this cycle of misery. He clearly thought nothing of the consequences of selling drugs, he simply wanted to line his own pockets so he could enjoy all the trappings of criminality, as evidenced by his jet set lifestyle and fondness for expensive cars despite not paying any income tax.

"That is an insult to hard working people who I'm sure will be delighted seeing him imprisoned for such a long time.
 
"We exposed his criminality as a result of a meticulous investigation that involved analysis of more than 145,000 calls and 900 telephone numbers to other dealers and addicts and some good old-fashioned police work."