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60 years in jail for drug dealers

30/ 7/2008

A DARING undercover police operation has lead to the prosecution of 26 drug dealers who operated on the streets of Heywood.

Thanks to evidence gathered by undercover police officers posing as drug addicts, 18 people are now in jail with a further six given suspended sentences.

With the total jail time handed out topping 60 years, police are hailing Operation Bluebeard, carried out between June and November last year, a huge success.

The operation culminated with a number of dawn raids in November on 20 properties in Heywood including flats on Angel Meadow.

After gathering evidence, undercover police were able to bring prosecutions against 27 people involved in the sale of heroin and crack cocaine in Heywood, all of whom pleaded guilty.

More than £4,000 of class A drugs and 100 mobile phones were also recovered during police raids on 20 properties in November 2007, acting on the intelligence gathered.

The longest sentence went to Javed Aslam (pictured), aged 39, from Copthorne Crescent in Longsight, Manchester, who was jailed for five years.

Sentences of more than four years were also handed out to Rashid Hussain, 21, of Trafalgar Street, Rochdale, Mohammed Quabir, 25, of no fixed address, and Lisa Iles, 21, of Carlton Flats in Heywood.

Two juveniles were also convicted as part of the operation, one being a 16-year-old girl from Moston, who pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to three years and four months in custody.

All those convicted were concerned with selling drugs to addicts in Heywood, with the trade taking place both on streets around the town from cars and at residential properties, including several Angel Meadow flats.

During the defendants’ hearings, the court heard how gangs of drug dealers, two of which were known as ‘The Billy Gang’ and ‘Tiger’, would meet addicts around Heywood to sell heroin and crack cocaine.

Flats in Angel Meadow were also used as bases for the dealers, with a special telephone number addicts could call to arrange to go there and buy drugs.

Detective sergeant Jed Sudworth, from Rochdale CID, said: "Today marks the culmination of over a year’s work to remove those people from our communities who continue to spread drugs and exploit addicts.

"I am really pleased with today’s result, and hope it sends a clear message not only to other offenders but to the local community that we will continue to work hard to reduce drug dealing and the massive, detrimental effect it has on people.

"We will keep trying to seize any assets that these offenders got from selling drugs, and will be making applications under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

"We are determined that these people don’t benefit any more from their criminality, and other peoples’ misery."

A MAN who was arrested for his involvement in selling class A drugs was spared jail after the judge heard how he had turned his life around – and was now studying criminology at university.

Adeel Mansoor had pleaded guilty to one count of being involved in the sale of heroin before being sentenced at Bolton Combined Court on Tuesday July 29.

He was allowed to go free with a suspended six-month suspended sentence to run for one year and was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Judge Everett heard how Mansoor, 19, of Heights Lane, Rochdale, had been driving around Heywood with two friends, who were part of a drugs ring known as ‘Tiger’, when they stopped to sell heroin from the car.

Although he was not involved with handling the drugs, money or taking mobile phone calls to arrange the sales, undercover police working as part of Operation Bluebeard were able to identify him as one of the car’s passengers after posing as addicts to buy from his friends.

Passing sentence on Mansoor, Judge Everett said: "I am prepared to accept that you are remorseful and from a good family who have been disgusted by your behaviour.

"However, your guilty plea shows your part in the sale of heroin from a car by your school friends."

OPERATION BLUEBEARD – THE FULL SENTENCES

• Mohammad Ali, aged 25, Durham Street, Rochdale - Supplying class A drugs - Three years
• Zahid Khan, aged 25, No fixed abode - Supplying class A drugs - Three years
• Kamram Zafar, aged 21, High Barn Close, Rochdale - Supplying class A drugs - Three years
• Amir Javid, aged 19, Good Shepherd Close, Rochdale - Supplying class A drugs - Three years
• Rashid Hussain, aged 21, Trafalgar Street, Rochdale - Supplying class A drugs, possession with intent to supply - Four and a half years
• Adeel Mansoor, aged 19, Heights Lane, Rochdale - Supplying class A drugs - Six months, suspended for one year, 150 hours' community service
• Imad Ul Haque, aged 19, Yarwell, Rochdale Supplying class A drugs Nine months, suspended for two years
• Javed Aslam, aged 39, Copthorne Crescent, Longsight - Supplying class A drugs, possession with intent to supply - Five years
• Mohammed Qabir, aged 25, No fixed abode - Possession with intent to supply - Four years nine months.
• Lisa Iles, aged 21, Carlton Flats, Heywood - Supplying class A drugs - Four years.
• Rachel Wakes, aged 37, Carlton Flats, Heywood - Supplying class A drugs - Three years, four months.
• David Milner, aged 27 - Carlton Flats, Heywood - Supplying class A drugs - Three years, four months.
• Austin Flynn, aged 38 - Excelsior Gardens, Heywood - Supplying class A drugs - Three years.
• Mustafa Khan, aged 27, Whitley Road, Rochdale - Supplying class A drugs - Three years, eight months.
• Tracey Thompson, aged 44, Whalley Road, Heywood - Supplying class A drugs - Four years
• Wayne Thompson, aged 41, No fixed abode - Supplying class A drugs - Eight months, suspended for two years
• Dean Moore, aged 20, Yew Street, Heywood - Supplying class A drugs - Three and a half years.
• Sean Forrest, aged 21, No fixed abode - Supplying class A drugs - Three and a half years.
• James Bodden, aged 19, Edgworth Close, Heywood - Supplying class A drugs - Two and half years.
• Michael Roberts, aged 41, George Street, Heywood - Supplying class A drugs - Six months, suspended for 18 months and a 12-month supervision order.
• John Keatings, aged 51, Rainsdale Flats, Heywood - Supplying class A drugs - 12 months, suspended for two years, and 200 hours' community service
• Warren Taylor, aged 26, Birch Street, Heywood - Supplying class A drugs - Two and half years.
• Dean Tymkiw, aged 39, Walton Close, Heywood - Supplying class A drugs - 12 months, suspended for two years
• Paul Hearne, aged 25, Gaskell Street, Heywood - Supplying class A drugs - One year

Two juveniles were also convicted as part of this operation. One 16-year-old girl from Moston was charged with supplying class A drugs and sentenced to three years and four months custodial after pleading guilty to the offence. Another 16-year-old girl from Heywood was also charged with supplying class A drugs and was sentenced to a 12 month drug supervision order after she pleaded guilty to the offence.