Over thirty jailed in North Manchester drugs sting

More than 30 people have been jailed after an undercover officer infiltrated a drugs gang in North Manchester.

Operation Danube – a covert investigation spanning a year – targeted organised crime groups involved in the supply of Class A drugs across the North Manchester area.

Greater Manchester Police said the operation was born out of intelligence about drug supply – specifically heroin and crack cocaine – in the Cheetham Hill and Crumpsall areas.

An undercover officer – only referred to as Jay – integrated himself with drug users and identified key players, gathering evidence on those involved in the chain of supply.

Detective Inspector Andy Buckthorpe of GMP’s City of Manchester Division, said: “The impact of drugs and those who deal them is significant across the North Manchester area, often taking away people’s quality of life by preying on the most vulnerable.

“Some of the most serious of crimes are as a result of drugs so being able to stand here today and put a stop to these people is a massive blow to those who benefit from the sale of drugs, with no regard for the amount of people they’re harming.

“We found that the organised criminals, who sit above street level, distance themselves from the day-to-day operational side to reduce the risk to themselves but, despite their tactics, we’ve been able to bring them tumbling down from the very top to the very bottom.”

31 people have been sentenced in total in relation to the operation.

Those sentenced:

Matthew Winward (5/10/1998) of Chesham Avenue, Wythenshawe was sentenced today to two years and six months.

Adheel Asghar (21/1/1988) of Cheetham Hill Road, Cheetham Hill was jailed for five years and seven months.

Katie Baldwin (13/9/1990) of Cheetham Hill Road, Cheetham Hill was jailed for three years.

Mohammed Ahad Ali (17/12/1973) of HMP Manchester was jailed for four months.

Jordan Allen (12/1/1984) of Lower Broughton Road, Salford was jailed for two years and six months.

Leomi Doyle (21/4/1998) of Ormskirk Avenue, Manchester received a one-year prison sentence, suspended for one year.

Kyle Alman (7/5/1995) of HMP Risley was jailed for three years.

Sydney Duncombe (13/6/1998) of Heyrose Walk, Hulme was jailed for three years and 10 months.

Daniel Partington (2/2/1992) of HMP Forest Bank was jailed for three years.

Robson Tucker (31/3/1996) of no fixed address was jailed for one year and eight months.

Mohammed Kulasi (15/5/1982) of Saddlecote Close, Crumpsall was jailed for three years and four months.

Christopher Kelsall (21/12/1987) of Tong Lane, Bacup was jailed for two years and eight months.

Ibrahim Qayyum (21/3/1999) of Cheetham Hill Road was jailed for two years and four months.

Ashar Butt (28/2/1999) of Humber Street, Cheetham Hill was jailed for two years and eight months.

Junayd Khan (14/4/1999) of Bignor Street, Cheetham Hill was jailed for two years and eight months.

Chad Lawrence (21/10/1999) of HMP Forest Bank was jailed for four years and two months.

Jack Modlinsky (30/7/1996) of HMP Forest Bank was jailed for three years and six months.

Paul Keetley (14/3/1967) of HMP Manchester was jailed for eight years.

Donna Daly (20/6/1965) of Heliers Drive, Salford received a one-year prison sentence, suspended for one year.

Jacob Dignum-Stansfield (3/8/1994) of Prospect Street, Heywood was jailed for three years and 10 months.

Tarrell Cargill (2/9/1998) of Delaware Walk, Harpurhey was jailed for four years.

Mohammed Rashid (30/6/1960) of Wellfield Road, Crumpsall was jailed for two years and eight months in prison.

Anthony McCorquodale (2/1/1994) of Edmund Street, Salford was jailed for three years and six months.

Hamza Shabbir (9/11/1986) of Bradwen Avenue, Crumpsall was jailed for six years and three months.

Faizan Shabbir (2/10/1998) of Greenstead Avenue, Cheetham Hill was jailed for one year and four months.

Thomas Lawrence (22/11/1990) of Downgate Walk, Cheetham Hill was sentenced to five years and 11 months. He has since died while serving his sentence.

Karl McDonagh (27/2/1998) of Beckenham Road, Cheetham Hill was sentenced to three years and two months.

Two boys aged 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received 12 month supervision orders.

A 17-year-old boy – who also cannot be named for legal reasons – received an intense community supervision order.

A 17-year-old – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was sentenced to two years in a young offenders’ institute.

A 17-year-old – who cannot be named for legal reasons – received a one year youth rehabilitation order.