Guns and ammo haul seized from drug gang
THIS is the potentially-lethal fire power of a drugs gang operating in south Manchester.
Live ammunition, three revolvers, and a deactivated Glock handgun were seized by police.
The stash, which also included £16,000 in cash, scales, mixing agents, a kilogram of skunk cannabis, and a quarter kilo of cocaine, were hidden at addresses across the Chorlton district.
A painstaking surveillance operation by GMP acting on intelligence resulted in the guns and bullets being take off the streets. It also resulted in a five-strong criminal gang being put behind bars.
As reported in the M.E.N. in
December 2018, Adil Choudhry, identified by police as a long standing member of an organised crime group and Haider Ali were spotted entering properties on Wilbraham Road and Northumberland Crescent several times.
On February 13 this year, Mohsin Choudhry was seen by detectives going into the Wilbraham Road property.
CCTV footage showed two other members of the gang – Amaar Zulfiqar and Hazara Singh – using a key to let themselves into the Wilbraham Road property more than 30 times that month.
On February 28, warrants were executed at properties on Green Walk, Wilbraham Road, Northumberland Crescent and Belbeck Street. A drugs factory was discovered by police on Wilbraham Road. A kilogram of skunk cannabis was found packaged in clear food bags, as well as a quarter kilo of cocaine.
Scales and mixing agents were found, was well as the Glock and two revolvers.
Ali was found at his home on Green Walk and was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs.
Asked if there was anything that could cause harm within the address, Ali pointed officers to his bedroom, where they found a Smith and Wesson revolver containing three live rounds of ammunition. Police recovered around £6,000 cash hidden in the cellar.
At Manchester Crown Court, Haider Ali, 25, of Green Walk, Whalley Range, was sentenced to 14 years for conspiracy to supply class A and B controlled drugs; and possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
Adil Choudhry, 25, of Belbeck Street, Bury, was sentenced to 14 years for conspiracy to supply class A and B controlled drugs; and possession of firearms and ammunition. Hazara Singh, 22, of Upper Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, was sentenced to four years for conspiracy to supply class A and B controlled drugs.
Amaar Zulfiqar, 23, of Lyndhurst Road, Stretford, was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to supply class A and B controlled drugs.
Mohsin Choudhry, 24, of Northumberland Crescent, Stretford, was sentenced to four years for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.