Four Manchester drug dealers jailed for over 18 years

Four men have been jailed for their part in the running of a class A drug dealing operation as part of a crackdown on disputes between crime groups in the north of Manchester.

Following a lengthy investigation, officers raided a room in a hotel in Blackpool on 23 September 2020 and located two of the men.

A total of 161 wraps of class A drugs including heroin and cocaine were found and seized along with eight mobile phones, a machete and paraphernalia linked to drug use.

Prince Moyo (19/10/1999) of Strawberry Road, Salford and Dylan Worthington (05/06/1998) of Heath Street, Cheetham were arrested in the hotel room.

On the same day, officers stopped a vehicle in the Bolton area and located Vernard Murray (28/10/1998) of Chorley Road, Swinton, who was then arrested.

During further searches of the four men's addresses, Jack Worthington was also located and arrested.

The convictions are the latest as part of Operation Haemus - GMP's response to a dispute between crime groups in the north of Manchester.

All four men were sentenced on Friday (23 April 2021) at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs along with a series of other offences.

Dylan Worthington (5/6/1998) of Heath Street, Cheetham Hill, was sentenced to four years, nine months.

Vernard Murray (28/10/1998) of Chorley Road, Swinton, was sentenced to three years, six months.

Prince Moyo (19/10/1999) of Strawberry Road, Salford, was sentenced to seven years.

Jack Worthington (22/02/2002) of Heath Street, Cheetham Hill, was sentenced to three years and six months.

The convictions are the latest as part of Operation Haemus - GMP's response to a dispute between crime groups in the north of Manchester.

A dedicated disruption hub was formed in November 2020 and the team has so far supported 36 arrests, over 25 warrants, in excess of 200 stop searches, the seizure of large amounts of class A and B drugs, and has since seen a steep drop in firearms incidents in the area.

Detective Inspector Louise Edwards, from GMP's CID City of Manchester division, said: "These men were all part of a known organised crime group in north Manchester that have been heavily involved in serious violence and drug supply in the last 18 months or so.

"Tackling drug crime remains a high priority for GMP and I am pleased with this verdict.

"I hope this sends a strong message to anyone involved with the supply of drugs into our local communities that this will not be tolerated and sooner or later you will be found out.

"Drugs completely destroy lives and blight our communities and so we are determined to do all we can to prevent this type of criminal activity and to make sure that offenders are brought to justice."