As they crumble huge supply op
handguns and three Skorpion sub-machine guns.
On April 25, there was further discussion between Malik, Gonzalez and Waters about moving firearms a ‘a guy from brum is taking 2 with 60 sweets.’
The following day, it dawned on the group that the net was closing in.
Gonzalez said to Waters: “Bro if you got lifted I’d be f ****** g gutted as well... depressing sh*t.”
Waters replied: “Think we need to think smarter now, we need use four top of our game, I know ted be low for a bit but they need two drivers so we can pass drivers and drivers pass to others.” He then added: “Mate any of us got lifted I’d be gutted.”
Despite Sandlan’s arrest, the conspiracy continued.
Further surveillance operations were conducted in May and June before the rest of the group were arrested on June 14, 15 and 25. Malik, who lived in a flat in St Mary’s Parsonage in Manchester was caught with an Encrophone which he’d stuffed down the seat
cushion of a chair in his bedroom.
Officers also seized £15,000 in cash, a table full of expensive watches, along with drugs and paperwork.
Gibbons was arrested at his home in Reddish.
When police asked him if there was anything they needed to be aware of, he said: “There are a load of tablets upstairs in the cupboard in the bedroom... also some cocaine and some guns... and there’s some amphetamine in the fridge.”
Officers went on to find two Skorpion submachine guns; two self-loading pistols; two magazines containing ammunition; 12 large bags of frozen amphetamine and a suitcase containing over £600,000 in cash.
At Waters’ home, police found a handwritten account list; a cash counting machine; a vacuum packing machine and lease documentation for the storage unit.
At Gonzalez’ mother’s home they found an Encrochat phone.
Cooney, who lived in a house in Alderley Edge, with two Porsche’s parked outside, was also caught with cocaine; luxury watches and paperwork for an Italian villa.
Hogan was found with two Tasers and cash in different currencies.
As the investigation continued, it soon became clear the scale of the gun ring, not just in Manchester, but across the UK.
The firearms supplied by the group were capable of fully-automatic fire.
They were compatible with factory-manufactured
9mm calibre ammunition possessed by OCGS in Scotland, Ireland and London.
In messages between Malik and Gonzalez, one individual said: “he despo bro as there is TP (transport) going Ireland, they’re in war over there, a kid got chopped up.”
Explaining his interpretation of the message to the jury, firearm expert Det Insp Danny Young said: “This suggests to me that these people were interested in buying [five] firearms, they were ‘desperate’ for them to go over to Ireland as they were involved in a ‘war,’ or a violent dispute with a rival group about someone that had got stabbed or assaulted.”
In response, a message read: “We got a war, at least we need heat.” The expert explained that ‘heat’ meant ‘firearm.’
Commenting on the number of messages discussing payments and negotiations for the various firearms, DI Young said: “This is the highest level of firearm trafficking of these weapons I have ever come across.”
Prosecutors said that ‘once released on the unregulated market, there was no control as to whose hands they would end up in.’
The gang will be sentenced on December 14 this year. They are:
● Mohammed Omar Malik, 33, of St Mary’s Parsonage, Manchester city centre, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess firearm or ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply cocaine; conspiracy to supply MDMA; and conspiracy to
supply amphetamine
● Daniel Gibbons, 39, of Wordsworth Road, Reddish, Stockport, was found guilty of conspiring to possess a firearm or ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply amphetamine. He was found not guilty of conspiring to supply MDMA
● Daniel Waters, 41, of Broom Avenue, Reddish, Stockport, was found guilty of conspiring to possess firearms or ammunition with intent to endanger life
● Sean Hogan, 40, of West Park, Denton, Tameside, was found guilty of conspiring to supply firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life; and guilty of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and ketamine
● Andrew Cooney, 39, of Oakfield Close, Alderley Edge, was found guilty of conspiring to possess firearms or ammunition with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to supply cocaine. He was found not guilty of conspiring to supply amphetamine
● Conor Sandlan, 32, of Redfearn Wood, Rochdale, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess firearm or ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply cocaine; conspiracy to supply MDMA, and conspiracy to supply amphetamine
● Adrian Gonzales, 32, of City Road East, Manchester city centre, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess firearm or ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply cocaine; conspiracy to supply MDMA; and conspiracy to supply amphetamine
RICHARD Haslam Guitar and Anna Chiu Piano at TLC
DERBYSHIRE-BORN classical guitarist Richard Haslam graduated from Hull University before higher study with Craig Ogden at the RNCM.
He teaches and gives recitals as soloist and in a variety of ensembles.
The charming classical lines of Introduction and
Variations on a Theme of Mozart by Fernando Sor rang through the acoustic in St Mary in the Baum where even the intricate and delicate sounds ring true without being forced.
Contemporary composer Gary Ryan’s Birds flew over the Spire similarly floated through the space. His Benga Beat however, with its use of extraneous percussive tapping and strumming and even vocals, produced a fascinating and joyous African mix.
Ideal warm-ups for the main treat of the programme, Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. Richard was joined for this by pianist Anna Hoi Ching Chiu to play the orchestral reduction. A graduate of Hong Kong University, Anna took her masters at the RNCM and now is an international accompanist and harpsichordist.
Any worries about the piano overpowering the guitar were soon dispelled as the skilful and judicious accompanist sensitively supported the soloist whilst giving power to the full orchestral sections. A memorable experience for the enraptured audience.
The Queen’s Awardwinning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available. Contact 01706 648872 for information.