Members of a London-based drugs gang who ran heroin and crack into Manchester have been jailed following a joint investigation between GMP and the Metropolitan Police. Mobile phone data and CCTV footage showed they were transporting large amounts of class A drugs from the capital into Manchester, where they would 'canvas their customer base' by sending mass text messages, police say.
The gang was brought down after officers from GMP's Tactical Vehicle Intervention Unit stopped a Honda Civic in Sanbrook Retail Park, in Romford, Essex. The driver, Emmanuel Yamoah, was arrested on suspicion of being one of the drug line holders.
Three further raids were carried out at Angel Gardens, in Manchester city centre, and Promenade Street, Heywood. Officers recovered a large quantity of Class A drugs including heroin and cocaine, a Rambo knife and an imitation firearm.
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Nathaniel Ofori, 23, of Tiverton Road, London was jailed four years and six months. Donell Shyngle, 24, of Seven Sisters Road, London, was jailed for five years and three months.
Moses Aibamwen, 28, of Avenue Road, Erith, was sentenced to four years and ten months in prison. Emmanuel Yamoah, 28, was jailed for four years and one month.
Rojhat El-Sindi, 26, of Foyle Road, London, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. All five men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.
PC Nick Stylianou said: "This proactive operation identified that the group were dealing Class A drugs over an 11-month period, living lavish lifestyles, funded by criminality. The extensive work involved in the case, we hope, demonstrates our commitment to tackling this crime, which is heavily linked to exploitation and serious violence leading to untold misery.
"We are pleased with the sentences passed by the courts, and hope it acts as a deterrent to those who partake in this type of reckless behaviour. Those involved will face the full force of the law."
Det Insp Roger Smethurst of GMPs Serious Organised Crime Group added: "No matter how coordinated you think your criminal enterprise is, police forces are actively collaborating and sharing intelligence. We will dismantle your organisation and bring you to justice.
"We know that when we seize these items or put people behind bars, that we can’t stop there. These people are profiting from some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and we will continue to pursue every level of criminality involved in the distribution of drugs."
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