A drugs gang funded their 'lavish lifestyles' by flooding Manchester’s streets with class A drugs.
Five men have now been jailed for their part in the multi-million pound operation which sold huge amounts of cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and ketamine over a four-year period.
The 'sophisticated' network - led by brothers Mohammed and Ebrahim Sadigh - distributed up to an estimate £10 million worth of illegal drugs before it was eventually brought down in December 2020.
At Manchester Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday), Mohammed Sadigh, 30; Ebrahim Sadigh, 22; Hamza Azouz, 31; Illyas Abudaber, 23; and Hamam Alhamruni, 24, were locked up for a combined total of more than 40 years for their roles in the drugs ring.
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Prosecutor Neil Fryman told the court that another alleged co-conspirator, namely Zuhir Nassrat, is still on the run.
The gang was rumbled following a crash in Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, in April 2017, the court heard. During a search of one of the vehicles involved - a Vauxhall Corsa - police discovered cannabis, white powder, and two mobile phones used in drugs supply.
One of the phones was attributed to Abudaber - a ‘runner’ within the operation. The other phone recovered showed Nassrat and Azouz were also involved in supplying drugs.
In June of the following year, police raided Ebrahim Sadigh’s home in Quantock Street, Moss Side, and found more than £4,000 in cash hidden on top of a wardrobe.
His older brother, Mohammed, claimed the money was his. He was arrested and claimed he had borrowed the money from a friend to buy a car.
Months later in December, police raided another property in Moss Side, where Mohammed Sadigh had been living with a man named Shamsudin Khalifa. Officers found £12,000 worth of drugs including cocaine, MDMA and cannabis, as well as £7,500 in cash, multiple phones, an iMac and drug paraphernalia.
Following a trial, Khalifa was found not guilty by a jury of four offences of conspiracy to supply cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and ketamine.
“A number of items indicative of a lavish lifestyle were also recovered including a designer clothing, a Rolex watch box and a personalised number plate which read ‘R900 MOE’, and was attributed to Mohammed,” the prosecutor said.
Multiple ‘burner’ phones were also recovered from the house, which had messages consistent with customers ordering drugs and locations for the deals to take place.
About a month later, police were involved in a high speed chase with a stolen black Audi, which reached speeds of 90mph in a 30mph zone.
The Audi was later found abandoned in Salford. Cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and ketamine were found inside the car.
“The police dog was set to track the offenders and has tracked from the Audi’s driver’s door of the vehicle to Fenney Street East,” Mr Fryman said.
“It was there the dog discovered a black Deliveroo bag containing drugs, a plastic wallet containing the fingerprint of Ebrahim Sadigh and drug paraphernalia.”
The total value of the drugs seized was more than £43,000. There was also blood staining belonging to Ebrahim.
The court heard of another incident on September 3, 2019, in which Abudaber had been in a stolen black Audi A3 on Banff Road, Rusholme, when he was attacked and left with stab wounds.
He ran from the Audi and was chased by officers and later found in nearby bushes in possession of drugs. Drug paraphernalia and a machete were also found in the Audi. The total value of the drugs recovered was £3,471.50.
The following month, Abudaber was found carrying drugs, cash and a loaded firearm after he had been involved in a crash following a high speed police chase in a stolen Audi. The gun had been wrapped in a towel while a further bullet was found in Abudaber's pocket.
An iPhone belonging to Abudaber was also recovered, which showed he was involved in drug dealing.
“From the period of January 2017 and the October 2019 police have recovered a total of over £38,000 in cash and also approximately £57,000 worth of drugs from this group of linked individuals,” Mr Fryman explained.
Police carried out a number of ‘strike’ days, which saw several homes raided in connection with the investigation.
Alhamruni was arrested at a property in Nevada Street, Ardwick, where a number of phones linked to the supply of class A drugs were also found. He told police he was a heavy cannabis user and began dealing drugs to pay off a drug debt.
During a raid of Azouz's home in Bexington Road, Moss Side, a total of £5,000 in cash and a large quantity of empty “Puffy” ‘smelly proof’ bags were seized.
A HMRC check showed all of the defendants had either no declared income or very small amounts.
Ebrahim Sadigh was interviewed and provided no comment. He was later caught trying to flee the country at Manchester Airport, and told officers he was on his way to visit family in Libya.
For Mohammed Sadigh, Julian Jones said his client was remorseful over his involvement in the drug ring.
Richard Canning, representing Azouz, said his client was not part of the larger conspiracy and that it was a ‘classic case of street dealing’. He added that he has a young family.
Mitigating for Ebrahim Sadigh, Raymond Ali said his client was just 16 when the conspiracy began and had shown a 'lack of maturity' by becoming involved at the direction of his older brother. Mr Ali said Ebrahim had since shown 'genuine remorse'.
"This is a man who has reflected on the impact it has had on his younger brother, who is autistic," he told the court. "He still receives the support of his family. This has caused them deep shame and embarrassment."
For Abudaber, David Toal said his client had been given the gun after he was attacked.
He said the defendant had spent more than three years in custody since his arrest in October 2019, and had used his time behind bars to complete a joinery course as well as working as a cleaner.
Stephen Welford, representing Hamam Alhamruni, argued that while his client played a 'significant role' in the drug operation, he had only 'limited involvement' over its four-year duration.
Mohammed Sadigh and Ebrahim Sadigh, both of Quantock Street, Moss Side, were jailed for 11 and seven years respectively after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and ketamine.
Azouz, of Mardy Street, Cardiff, was jailed for six years. He also admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and ketamine.
Abudaber, of Birchfields Road, Fallowfield, was jailed for 12 years. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and ketamine, as well as a string of further offences, including possession of a loaded firearm.
Alhamruni, of Nevada Street, Ardwick, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, cannabis and ketamine, as well as two breaches of a suspended sentence. He was jailed for six years and four months.
Sentencing the five men, Recorder Mark Ford KC described the operation as "sophisticated and wide-ranging".
"Although based in Manchester, it's apparent that the reach of conspiracy extent beyond this city," he added.
A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing has been set for May 5 this year.
Speaking after the hearing, Detective Sergeant Richard Bolt from GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: "These sentences are a clear reflection on the impact that this group of individuals have caused on the public in Manchester. Drug dealing has consequences and affects those beyond the drug dealers and drug users.
“This operation has seen not only drugs, cash, lethal firearms and weapons removed off the streets, but also the recovery of vehicles stolen from innocent members of the public as a result of their houses being burgled.
“These vehicles have then been used dangerously on the roads of Greater Manchester and ultimately involved in high-speed police pursuits risking the lives of people going about their normal day to day activities. This behaviour typifies the complete lack of regard to others these individuals have in their own pursuit of making money to fund their criminal lifestyles.
“The investigation has been complex and spanned a number of years, pulling together what may seem like isolated incidents in order to target those behind the 'street dealer'. This is in order to prosecute the people higher up the chain who often go unseen or unpunished for their actions. The convictions and the sentences show that it does not matter where in that chain you are, you are not removed from the attention of the police."
Detective Inspector Madeline Kelly, from GMP’s the City of Manchester Xcalibre Task Force, whose team led the investigation, said: "These sentences are another excellent result for GMP and a testament to the hard work carried out by all involved. Our top priority is keeping the public safe and we are committed to taking firearms, weapons and drugs off the streets of Greater Manchester.
“We know that when we seize these items or put someone behind bars, that we can't stop there, and we will continue pursuing criminals across Manchester to bring them to justice and ensure the safety of the communities we serve. I would like to thank our officers for their work in successfully taking the higher echelons of this crime operation off our streets.”
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