A gang who led a drugs conspiracy across Greater Manchester and Lancashire have been jailed for more than 50 years following the work of detectives from GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group.
Eight men were sentenced this week, with the ringleader Michael Doyle from Salford due to be sentenced at a later date, after detectives kept a gang under surveillance as they used encrypted mobile phones to communicate and arrange their drugs drop-offs between 2019 and 2020.
Over £60k in cash and £400k worth of cocaine and amphetamine were seized as part of the large-scale investigation, along with machinery including a hydraulic press and paraphernalia used in the preparation of drugs.
Between June and December 2019, Michael Doyle, 35, from Salford, was identified as the head of the organised crime group and an investigation was launched.
Following months of work undertaken by a covert team of officers who kept the group under close surveillance, officers watched as they travelled around Greater Manchester and Lancashire dropping off various packages of drugs.
Some of the encrypted phones, which are largely used by criminals wanting to avoid being tracked by police, were recovered by officers following a raid at the home of Michael Mason from Salford on 1 October 2019 and showed a large amount of contact between group members.
By the end of November 2020, all nine of the men had been arrested and later charged following several raids, with drugs and cash located at various addresses around Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
At the home of Andrew Norris from Lancashire, officers also located an illegal shot gun taped to the back of an ironing board.
Detective Constable David Moran, of GMPs Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: “This was a complex investigation involving a large team of detectives who closely monitored the group, eventually leading to enough intelligence being gathered for officers to be able to execute raids on the relevant addresses that were housing large quantities of drugs and cash.
“These men were key figures in a large North West drug supply chain and I am happy with the sentences received this week.
“Our officers have worked extremely hard to bring these people to justice but most importantly it means that we now have nine less criminals on the streets of Greater Manchester, making our local communities a safer place to live.
“I’d like to remind anyone concerned in the supply of drugs, that we will catch up with you and make sure that you face the consequences of your actions.
“Drugs destroy lives and contribute to lining the pockets of dangerous criminals. I’d urge anyone with information or anyone concerned about drug supply in their area to contact police so we can continue to fight this type of crime.”
