A young drug dealer who police said had 'more than 14,000 contacts' on his mobile phone has been jailed. Greater Manchester Police detectives said Selim Ahmed 'continually' sent out text messages from the Nokia 'graft' phone everyday in the hope users would buy crack cocaine and heroin.
As he begins a prison sentence, they said Ahmed was 'profiting from vulnerable people who are addicted to harmful drugs' and 'advertising' the substances for sale.
The 22-year-old, from Heywood near Rochdale, was arrested in November 2022 and after being charged, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and possession of a knife. At Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday, he was jailed for four years.
Police said in a statement released after the sentencing hearing that Ahmed's 'top contacts' on the Nokia 105 phone were Class A drug users. GMP said: "The 22-year-old was also advertising the supply of drugs in Heywood and Middleton.
"Between August 2022 and November 2022, evidence showed he sent text messages every day, including 'on, power fat sizes' and 'new stuf, w nd gear! Firing one! On t late'.
"On Wednesday 16 November 2022, Ahmed was arrested at a property on Cedar Avenue in Heywood and was found to be in possession of the Nokia 105 graft mobile phone. He was charged and subsequently pleaded guilty, at an earlier hearing, to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and possession of a knife.
"On Monday 6 February Ahmed appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court and was sentenced to 48 months."
Detective Sergeant Chris Woodburn, from Greater Manchester Police's County Lines Team, said: "Ahmed was profiting from vulnerable people who are addicted to harmful drugs like crack cocaine and heroin. The evidence showed he would continually send text messages to the thousands of contacts he had on his phone in the hope they would buy the drugs.
"Our job is to identify and target people like Ahmed to seize the 'graft' phone, so it is no longer active. We will continue to do that to stop drug dealers and organised crime groups from exploiting vulnerable people.
"Help us help them by reporting any activity you believe may be related to drugs, knowing we will do the rest."
So-called 'graft' phones are typically the main point of contact between dealers and users, with multiple 'flare' text messages sent out to advertise the types of drugs available and often, what deals would cost.
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