A total of 26 people have been jailed after conspiring to bring millions of pounds worth of cannabis into the UK.
Greater Manchester Police launched Operation Tisdale in March 2016 to interrupt and dismantle a large organised crime group who conspired to produce, package and sell industrial-sized quantities of cannabis on a national scale.
The near-30-strong criminal enterprise were employed in the conspiracy as farmers, managers, quartermasters and directors to sustain the operation.
On 21 July 2016 officers from GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group orchestrated 12 raids across the Greater Manchester and Cheshire areas in a joint operation with the immigration service, North West Electricity and local authorities.
Officers discovered cannabis farms reaching an approximate total worth of £6million across Crumpsall, Moss Side, Wythenshawe, Stretford, Salford, Droylsden, Rochdale and Wilmslow.
Other farms were discovered in Rotherham and Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
Enquiries established that the produce of these farms had reached a number of areas in Manchester and Sheffield but also in areas further south in Swindon.
26 people were arrested, charged and convicted of offences including conspiracy to supply class B drugs, money laundering and false documentation.
Detective Inspector Karen Ryan of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Team, said: “Professing to be part of a sophisticated operation, the group used false names, false addresses and fraudulent documentation to avoid detection by the authorities, frustrate police investigations and attempt to evade criminal prosecution.
“They stretched far beyond the borders of Greater Manchester, pumping the proceeds of their crimes into other cities spreading the detrimental effects of drug supply across the nation.
“We have been able to collect evidence and following strong lines of enquiry thanks to the members of the community who notified us of the group’s wrongdoings and have been invaluable in our pursue to prosecute them.
“This has been an intense investigation which has relied on the intelligence and the trust of the community and today, we can confidently say these people are safely behind bars, unable to profit from the proceeds of their illicit activity or continue to spread harm through the streets of the United Kingdom.”
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