A vile drugs gang known as the 'Portuguese Mafia' cuckooed vulnerable addicts and used CHILDREN to peddle drugs. The gang terrorised blocks of flats in Rochdale, deliberately targeting addicts before taking over their homes and using them as a base for their crimes.
Their terrified victims were too afraid to challenge them, and one had the keys to their flat stolen. Some have been relocated for their own protection, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Some members of the gang laughed as they were sentenced. The judge said she'd been subjected to 'abusive language' during their trial, and cannabis was also discovered in the dock during the case.
The gang, also known as the '706', peddled cocaine, heroin and cannabis on the Freehold and Falinge estates in the town, using threats of violence to instil fear. Social workers and cuckooed victims witnessed children being exploited to deal drugs on the gang's behalf.
As part of the investigation three children were removed from the area for their own safety, and a further five were 'safeguarded' using other methods. Four adults were relocated for their protection.
Residents living in the areas in which the gang operated were left terrified by their behaviour. Drug dealing took place in stairwells of blocks of flats, as well as in football and basketball courts.
Det Supt Natalie Dalby, of Rochdale police, told how the gang's crimes had a 'dramatic effect' on the area. "The dealing in drugs along with the exploitation that goes with it is a blight on any community," she said.
"The use by the 706 of particular areas caused fear and reduced the ability of people to feel safe in their own neighbourhood. They were involved in widespread dealing of class A drugs and the exploitation of children to deal in the drugs. The resulting impact caused fear in the community and affected the lives of many people."
Now nine men have faced justice for their crimes. Bekhtullah Abasi, 24, Samuel Djassi, 24, Rafael Ernesto, 20, Mohammed Latif, 49, Karan Singh, 29, Manuel Vanduno, 21, Glen Kabambe, 24, Pascal Lupaka, 20, and Pacheli Ndele, 24, have all been locked up.
Heartbraking testimony from the vulnerable people the group targeted was laid bare in court. A recovering drug addict had gained a flat on the Freehold estate with the help of a housing organisation, and planned to turn his life around.
"I wanted my home to be my chance to sort my life out," he said. "This opportunity was destroyed the second this group decided to take over my flat."
The same day that he moved in, members of the gang approached him and asked if he wanted to smoke some cannabis with him. While they were there, the men stole a spare set of keys. The next day, they returned and let themselves in.
His flat soon became a 'party house', where people would drink and take drugs, and the gang would use it as a base for drug dealing. After giving him cocaine and cannabis for free, the gang then demanded that he repay his debt.
When his girlfriend dared to alert the authorities, a brick was thrown through the window of her home a few days later. The same day there was a fire at his flat. One gang member, Abasi, told him in a message: "Am gonna knock your face in and s*** in your mouth."
After being relocated, he said: "I live in fear these boys would come after me." A flat belonging to a woman who has used drugs for 'most of her life' was also taken over by the gang.
She was given cocaine by them, and told she could pay later. The next day, Ernesto and Lupaka turned up after banging on the door, demanding money. The pair burst past her and made themselves at home.
She ended up paying them about £2,000 for an initial debt of £250. The gang would return every day, and when they arrived the terrified woman would retreat into her bedroom.
She allowed them to use a spare key to her flat, fearing they may break the door otherwise. "What happened has made my usage spiral out of control again," she said. "It has ruined my life again."
"They forced drugs on me, they made me feel isolated from everyone." At one point she saw children with members of the gang.
About 30 bags of cocaine were left on a coffee table, and after the children left the bags were gone. Another drug addict of more than a decade said he had never before been in 'so much fear' while trying to score drugs.
They also used his flat to prepare drugs, and he paid them at least £1,000 for an initial debt of £170. Another flat in Falinge was found to have been used by the gang.
One member, Ernesto, was found fleeing when police arrived, after concerns had been raised that the tenant was missing.
Members of the gang were sentenced on Friday afternoon. Judge Rachel Smith slammed some of the defendants for appearing to laugh at witnesses at points during the two-month trial, talking amongst themselves, and falling asleep in the dock.
Judge Smith also said that 'abusive language' was directed at her during the trial. Cannabis was also discovered in the dock during the trial, but no more information was provided on this during the sentencing.
Even as they were being sentenced, some of the defendants could be seen laughing over video link from prison.
- Abasi was jailed for nine years.
- Djassi was jailed for nine years.
- Ernesto was jailed for four years and six months.
- Latif was jailed for seven years.
- Singh was jailed for three years and six months.
- Vanduno was jailed for three years and six months.
- Kabambe was jailed for seven years and six months.
- Lupaka was jailed for four years and six months.
- Ndele was jailed for four years and six months.
Djassi, of Stavordale, Rochdale; Latif, of Tweedale Street, Rochdale; Abasi, of St John's Drive, Rochdale; Kabambe, of Longridge Drive, Rochdale; and Ndele, of Berwick Street, Rochdale; were convicted of conspiring to supply cocaine.
Djassi, Vanduno, of Mount Street, Rochdale; Singh, of Ings Avenue, Rochdale; Ernesto, of no fixed address; and Kabambe were convicted of conspiring to supply cannabis.
Latif, Abasi and Ndele pleaded guilty to the same offence.
Djassi was convicted of being concerned in the supply of heroin, and Ernesto and Lupaka, of Walk Mill Close, Rochdale, were convicted of a further count of conspiring to supply cocaine.
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