Last drug gang member jailed

Date published: 14 March 2010

The last member of a gang at the heart of a conspiracy to peddle thousands of pounds worth of drugs in Rochdale hase been jailed. 

Fazal Mohommed, (born 10/05/1986), of Oswald Street, Rochdale, was sentenced to four and a half years in jail after a Newton Hearing at Bolton Crown Court, having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Six other members of the gang have already been sentenced.

Jawaad Ali (born 10/06/89) of Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession with intent to supply. He was sentenced to two years and three months in prison.

Abid Hussain (born 11/08/1989) of Trafalgar Street, Rochdale pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and two counts of possession with intent to supply cannabis. He was jailed for three years and three months.

Atif Mahmood (born 07/08/90) of Corbett Street, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis, and money laundering. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Abid Mahmood (born 03/11/90) of Enwisle Road, Rochdale pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Steven Holt (born 30/10/69) of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of Class A drugs. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison.

Jennifer Healy (born 18/10/84) of Hampson Street, Atherton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of Class A drugs and was given an eight-month sentence suspended for 12 months.

In December 2008, officers in Rochdale searched seven addresses in Wardleworth and Littleborough as part of a 14-month investigation into the supply of class A drugs and money laundering.

In January 2009 another address in Wardleworth was searched.

Heroin and crack cocaine worth about £3,500 was recovered in the raids as well as 50 bags of cannabis and £7,500 in cash.

Detective Constable Claire Rawcliffe from Rochdale CID said: "This group was responsible for dealing drugs to the community of Rochdale and ruining people's lives, and I am glad to see they will be punished for the misery they have caused.

"The fact we seized more than £7,000 in cash shows how lucrative this operation was and in smashing this drugs ring, we have sent a message to drug-dealers that not only will we put you behind bars, but we will also seize your ill-gotten gains so you cannot profit from your greed.

"Drugs devastate communities and Greater Manchester Police is committed to targeting the people responsible for supplying the streets with these dangerous and addictive substances."