Brothers from Middleton and Oldham jailed for 20 years for role in drug supply across Greater Manchester

Brothers from Middleton and Oldham have been jailed for a combined total of 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to supplying drugs across Greater Manchester today (Friday 20 October).

Daniel Rains, 39, of Middleton, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply class A drugs (heroin) and two counts of conspiracy to produce class B drugs (ketamine and amphetamine).

His younger brother, John Rains, 36, of Oldham, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs (heroin and cocaine), two counts of conspiracy to produce class B drugs (ketamine and amphetamine) and two counts of conspiracy to supply class B drugs (ketamine and cannabis). He received a 14-year sentence.

The offences occurred between February and June 2020.

John Rains was involved in conspiracies to supply 8 kilos of heroin worth £112,000 and 6.5kg of cocaine estimated to be worth £273,000, with discussions for him to supply a further 25kg of cocaine weekly estimated at £1,050,000 wholesale per week.

In total, it is documented the brothers conspired to produce over 100 kilos of ketamine in a week, valued at £750,000, with the total value of intended ketamine production worth £2,932,500.

As a result of the overarching Operation Venetic – a nationwide crackdown led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) into the communications platform EncroChat – GMP set up Operation Baroque, an investigation looking into an Organised Crime Group, involved in the buying and selling of multi-kilo amounts of heroin, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis together with the production of ketamine and amphetamine.

The brothers used Encrochat – encrypted mobile phones – to evade law enforcement and the tactics used to access electronic devices – to communicate with one another to organise the delivery and regional wholesale supply of drugs to their homes.

 

 

Once the devices were seized, officers discovered pictures of a very large block of cocaine being weighed on distinctive scales, where identical scales were found at John Rains’ home address.

The drugs were supplied to him at wholesale prices from several other Encrochat handles, and he then offered these drugs out for sale to other handles. The purchase and collection of these amounts are arranged via encrypted messaging, with payment made at a future date.

During the search of John Rains’ home in March 2022, police found items including drugs, scales, drugs phones, debtors’ lists, cash, a cash counter, designer wear and expensive watches. 

Detective Constable Brown, of GMP’s Operation Challenger Organised Crime Team, said: “Criminals have been operating using Encrochat, thinking their communications have been safe and secure from the authorities.

“The brothers made plans to supply more than £3million more in cocaine and ketamine, however, our officers managed to infiltrate their communications and used their words against them.

“John Rains had trusted drivers which he used to facilitate this supply and movement of drugs and cash. He was also involved in controlling the importation of heroin with his brother that they were involved with for eight years, with the drugs hidden in meat, using a route through Germany, Netherlands, England then onto Ireland.”

 

 

DC Brown continued: “John Rains had a group of trusted customers to whom he supplied drugs to in multiple kilo amounts. Once these kilogram amounts were moved on down the supply chain, the cash proceeds were collected and dropped off for Rains to pay his suppliers and also to make substantial profit for himself.

“By communicating with his suppliers and customers within a closed group on an encrypted device, John Rains was able to manage his enterprise at a distance, profiting as a conduit for vast amounts of drugs being supplied to those lower down the supply chain.

“Daniel also used his brother’s encrophone. He had a significant role within the OCG and was involved in the manufacture of both ketamine and amphetamines.”

Intelligence from members of the public plays an incredibly important role in police investigations. If you have any concerns about suspicious activity in your community, please report it. This helps police successfully shatter established criminal networks and deprive them of their assets.

Anyone with information or concerns should report to police online, if able, at www.gmp.police.uk or via 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.

Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.