'Major drugs player' jailed

A 'major Rochdale drugs player' who admitted drugs and firearms offences after a gun, ammunition and a large amount of cocaine and amphetamine were found at a house in Rochdale, has today (Friday 24 April) been jailed.

Mark Sindrey, of Curzon Road in Kirkholt, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and possession of cannabis.

He has been sentenced to 15 years and four months in prison.

On 1 August last year, Sindrey was arrested in Staffordshire on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle. He was driving an Audi A4 that was purchased in the Devon area, reportedly using a fraudulent credit card.

A warrant to search two addresses belonging to Sindrey was issued.

Shortly after 1.40pm, officers executed a warrant at an address on Curzon Road, Kirkholt and a short time later, at around 3pm, a warrant was executed at an in Chadderton.

During a search of the house on Curzon Road officers found 17 25kg industrial-type barrels of Benzocaine (with an approximate value of £400,000), two sets of electronic scales, a 9mm SLP pistol handgun, 47 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition and two empty magazines for the pistol.

Also recovered from the address were two safes. One of the safes contained two large compressed blocks of cocaine powder. These had a combined street value of over £80,000.

A search of the house in Chadderton resulted in officers uncovering a large quantity of amphetamine with a street value of £23,000, a quantity of cocaine, some scales and a cash counting machine as well as other drug items and paraphernalia.

A further search was also carried out on the car Sindrey had been stopped driving. £1,500 in cash was recovered.

Detective Constable Philip Whitehead from Rochdale CID, said: "It is clear from searching the two addresses that Sindrey was a major player in the supply of dangerous drugs on the streets of Rochdale and beyond.

"The fact we found a gun and ammunition demonstrates how much of dangerous individual Sindrey is. Thankfully every bullet we recover represents a potential life saved.

"I am pleased Sindrey will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars where he will be unable to continue his trade as a dangerous career criminal."