Thirteen men sentenced to a total of 56 years following drugs bust

Hassan Jabbar Azam

12 More Image(s) In Gallery

Thirteen men have been sentenced to a total of 56 years after an undercover police operation targeting drugs in Rochdale.

Hassan Jabbar Azam (15/09/94) of Berkeley Drive, Rochdale pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine. He received a four year sentence.

Muneeb Tariq (25/09/91) of Surma Close, Rochdale pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and sentenced to six years.

Joshua Furlong (09/07/92) of Fairway, Rochdale pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and was jailed for four years six months.

Peter Shaw (17/11/78) of Gainsborough Drive, Rochdale pleaded guilty conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and sentenced to four years six months.

Wajid Hussain (01/10/81) of William Street Rochdale pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and jailed for three years eight months.

Ibad Ul-Haque (26/12/92) of Leamington Street, Rochdale pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and was jailed for two years.

Haider Ali (09/04/92) of Pike Street, Rochdale pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine- and sentenced to four years six months.

Khalid Kindilidis (18/08/92) of Sykes Court, Rochdale pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine, and possession with intent to supply class A. He was jailed for six years.

Talat Ali (03/01/80) of HMP Forest Bank pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and received a five year sentence

Asif Mohammed (29/01/78) of HMP Forest Bank pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and was jailed for three years.

Kevin Dooley (31/07/82) of no fixed address pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine. He was sentenced to three years eight months.

Sheldon Simpson (12/09/92) of no fixed address pleaded guilty conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and was jailed for four years six months

Jordan Schwier (23/06/92) of Oak Close, Kettering, Northants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine, and possession with intent to supply class A. He received a five year jail term

The offenders were sentenced to a total of 56 years in prison as a result of Operation Trafalgar, an intelligence-led operation targeting those suspected of dealing drugs.

Today, Wednesday 16 September 2015, they were sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court following a culmination of months of work by officers to stop heroin and crack cocaine flooding the streets.

Along with Intelligence from the community, and the use of undercover police officers, evidence gained resulted in a series of raids in January 2015.

On Wednesday 28 January 2015, officers executed warrants as part of Operation Trafalgar across Rochdale.

Specialist officers from GMP's Tactical Aid Unit, teamed up with officers from the National Crime Agency, detectives and neighbourhood officers from Rochdale.

Following the arrests, officers painstakingly inspected 122,767 individual calls, from 3,643 separate numbers. The police were able to show the scale of each individual drug enterprise, and prove the telephone lines were dedicated drug order hotlines.

Detective Constable Gabriel Gibson of Rochdale division said: "Before this operation, we had executed similar successful drug operations and removed many of the prominent drug dealers from the streets of Rochdale. Despite this, these individuals had the gall to try and exploit the void by moving in and capturing the market share of Rochdale's heroin and crack cocaine trade.

"These men were motivated by money and have paid no regard to the ramifications of their terrible trade. They preyed on vulnerable people and ignored the collateral effects that drug addiction has on our society.

"I want to remind those thinking about profiting from illegal drugs in Rochdale, that in the last six years sentences have been handed out to Rochdale drug dealers and money launderers, totalling over 600 years. We will continue to relentlessly pursue you."

To report drug dealing, please contact Greater Manchester Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.