‘TupacDon' drug mob taken down on motorway after cops search car's secret compartment
GANG BUSTED |
The trio of men were caught after cops hacked the encrypted network EncroChat
Abdul Bahadir was behind the wheel of the car on July 28th 2020, with co-accused Husnain Ali (36) in the passenger seat.
Cops intercepted the car on the M61 and, upon searching the vehicle, uncovered a secret compartment packed with cocaine, mixing agents and digital scales. Read more
Both men were arrested, and a series of follow-up raids were conducted at properties in Oldham and Chorlton.
Police recovered £157,000 in cash, a vacuum packing machine, digital scales, and 'vast amounts' of luxury designer clothing at Bahadir's address in Oldham. Meanwhile, the home of a third man Mohammed Omayr (41) was searched in Chorlton, with almost £25,000 in cash, designer clothing and a watch recovered.
Cops found he had a black Lamborghini Urus, estimated to be worth more than £200,000, parked on his driveway.
The trio, who supplied heroin and cocaine across England, were targeted after authorities hacked encrypted messaging platform EncroChat.
Bahadir used the handles 'TupacDon' and 'Simonsays', with cops discovering Ali also used these accounts from time to time.
Greater Manchester Police say Omayr was responsible for the sale, distribution, returns, testing, storage, and payments for a huge amount of class A drugs.
Bahadir acted as a courier, moving money and drugs across the country daily. He also ran the gang's stash houses and originally acted as the gang's accountant, but was promoted to courier when their business took off.
The three men were jailed for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Ali then took on the role of accountant, which saw him count and pack money for onward delivery and storage.
Ali took over Bahadir's role of the gang's accountant, which saw him counting and packaging the money for onward delivery and storage.
The three men appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Monday to be sentenced fro their crimes.
Abdul Bahadir and Husnain Ali pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Bahadir from Allama Iqbal Road, Oldham was jailed for 11 years and six months, while Ali of Spinning Mews, Bolton was handed eight years and 11 months.
Mohammed Omayr, with an address of Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, was jailed for 16 years and four months, after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Drugs, money and watches seized by Manchester Police.
News in 90 Seconds - June 18th
"These men went to great lengths to conceal their illicit enterprise; they used encrypted mobile phones and built a hidden compartment in the cars they used to transfer the commodity in, all in an attempt to operate in secret,' Detective Constable Bryan Deighton, of Bury police, said following their sentencing.
"These men were driven by greed and spent their obscene proceeds of crime on designer clothes and flashy cars, unbothered that this wealth was gained at the expense of vulnerable drug users.
"I hope today's sentence is a stark reminder to criminals across Greater Manchester, regardless of time passed, we continue to investigate those who used encrypted phones, and we will continue with our relentless pursuit until you are brought to justice."
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