UK DRUG DEALERS JAILED

Twenty five drugs dealers have been jailed as part of Operation Challenger after 100 warrants were issued in October last year

A drugs gang is behind bars after one of the biggest crackdowns on organised crime in Manchester’s history.

Twenty five drugs dealers have been jailed as part of Operation Challenger after 100 warrants were issued in October last year.

Drugs couriers and dealers who sell drugs for crime groups to generate their wealth and power were targeted.

More than 50 tonnes of counterfeit goods worth £2m was recovered plus Class A and B drugs with a street value of £450,000.

Weapons including a baton, a stun gun, pepper spray, a ball bearing gun, two high powered air weapons and three live shotgun cartridges were also recovered and 12 vehicles including an Audi, Lexus and Subaru and a car stolen from a burglary, worth over £20,000 were seized.

Following the operation, a number other agencies were tipped off about possible criminal activity including private landlords and housing associations, HMRC, the Student Loans Company and the RSPCA.

Since October 25 drug dealers have been convicted with the last being jailed this week. In total they have been jailed for 67 years.

Chief Superintendent Rebekah Sutcliffe, said: “Challenger was set up to disrupt and dismantle the gangs that bring misery to the streets of Manchester, and to see so many members of these organised crime groups now behind bars is a fantastic result.

“This is all down to the tenacity and unwavering commitment of everyone involved to defeating these criminal gangs and I want to assure people across Manchester that this is just the beginning.

“Partner agencies across Greater Manchester will continue to target these networks and we will use every available resource in our arsenal to bring them crashing down.

“Our approach to dismantling these networks is to target them from every angle and make it impossible for them to operate. These gangs build their power from the bottom up and these drug dealers act as foot soldiers, peddling drugs to fund the illegal lifestyles of those higher up the tree. If you think about these gangs as buildings, these dealers are the foundations on which these gangs are built and if you take away the foundations, eventually the whole thing will come crashing down and that is our ultimate aim.

“By taking so many drug dealers and couriers off the streets, not only have we stopped the supply of drugs onto the streets of our communities, but we have also dried up a huge source of funds for the people at the top of these networks who mistakenly think they can enjoy a lavish lifestyle from drug money.

“Our message is clear – if you are involved in these crime groups in any way, whether it be a street dealer, a loan shark, a rogue landlord or those at the top of the tree, we will be coming for you.”

The following offenders have been convicted and sentenced over the last four months:

Steven Rushton 22, of Wignall Street, Droylsden, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs and possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and was sentenced to four years in prison.
James Worthington 22, of Ridgeway Street, Miles Platting, pleaded guilty to seven counts of supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Gareth Howell 21, of Queens Road, Collyhurst, pleaded guilty to eight counts of supplying Class A drugs and possession of a stun gun and sentenced to four years and three months in prison.
John Fleck 25, of Blackford Walk, Manchester, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Declan Murphy 23, of Blackford Walk, Moston, pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Steffan Wylie 39, of Wheeler Street, Openshaw, pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying Class A drugs and illegally abstracting electricity and was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison.
Phillip Wright 34, of Fernchurch Avenue, Newton Heath, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Ricky Burrows 35, of Mandella Close, London, pleaded guilty to seven counts of supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison.
Alfred Bailey 39, of Lancaster Court, Croydon Drive, Moston, pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying Class A drugs and two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison.
Lee Howell 25, of Blackford Walk, Moston,, pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
Michael Bradley 23, of Old Mill Street, Ancoats, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to six months in prison.
Orden Shallanda 34, of Cheadle Street, Openshaw, pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Paul Makin 49, of Chapman Street, Gorton, pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to 20 months in prison.
Lee Roberts 37, of Dale View, Hyde, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Wayne Roberts 33, of Cheetham Fold Road, Hyde, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
James Parkes 31, of Sheerness Street, Gorton, pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to 28 months in prison.
Dean Morris 26, of Maybury Street, Gorton, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Kevin Buckley 27, of Lanhill Drive, Manchester, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Matthew Hester 26, of Fitzroy Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Omar Berryman 25, of Hardy Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Daniel Dunlop 22, of Underwood Close, Abbey Hey, pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying Class A drugs and sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Michael McDonagh 18, of Brock Close, Openshaw, pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and four counts of supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.
Theo Samuels 27, of Fairfield Road, Openshaw, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs, two counts of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and was sentenced to 32 months in prison.
Mark Wright 46,of Princess Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Samuel Bailey 39, of East Road, Longsight, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and possession of criminal property and was sentenced to seven years and four months.
Wayne Scargill 29. of Beckton Gardens, Benchill, pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to two years in prison.