A 'county lines' drug dealer who police said 'advertised' the sale of heroin and crack cocaine to vulnerable addicts using a 'graft' phone has been jailed.
Daniaal Ghafoor was found in possession of 16 individual wraps of heroin and 32 wraps of crack cocaine when police raided a house in Rochdale. Further searches at Ghafoor's house in Bury uncovered another 'large amount' of drugs, said police, with the total haul seized worth around £150,000.
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement issued after he was sentenced that he was working for a county lines network and used a mobile phone to send multiple messages advertising the sale of crack cocaine and heroin to addicts. The 29 year-old, of Market Street, Bury, is now beginning a four-year prison sentence.
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GMP launched a covert investigation – codenamed Operation Jig – to identify who was supplying the drugs in and around the Rochdale area.
"When Ghafoor was identified, a warrant was executed at a property on Snowdon Street. Ghafoor was inside and had in his possession 16 wraps of heroin and 32 wraps of crack cocaine," said a force spokesman. A further warrant was executed at the property on Market Street where the large amount of drugs were located.
"Ghafoor was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin and answered no comment to all questions put to him while in custody."
Ghafoor, said police, pleaded guilty to all the offences he was charged with and was jailed by a judge sitting at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday.
Detective Chief Inspector Claire McGuire said: "The investigation centred on gathering intelligence around the identity of the person using the graft phone. From that mobile phone we evidenced Ghafoor as the person advertising the sale of Class A drugs to vulnerable users, which was his role for this county lines network.
"We are determined to identify and seek out people like Ghafoor who make a profit from the supply of drugs that often bring with it the exploitation of vulnerable people and young children.
"Whilst we will continue to target these criminals, we cannot always achieve results like today without the support of the public. I therefore encourage anyone who believes drug activity could be happening in their community to report it either to police via 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
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