Seven men sentenced to combined total of 53 years for their roles in class A drugs supply across Bury

Our Bury Challenger Team led an investigation into the supply of class A drugs, which concluded at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court today (Wednesday 11 September 2024) with seven defendants being sentenced.

This was a significant investigation linked to a long-standing drug supply line known as the  ‘ACE’ line.

The following men were all charged with two counts of conspire to supply cocaine and heroin, money laundering and supplying cocaine. 

• Hassan Hussain (04/11/1989) of South Bank Road, Bury was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment.
• Asam Hussain (20/02/1994) of South Bank Road, Bury was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
• Nasir Ali (26/02/1993) of Whitburn Drive, Bury was sentenced to six years nine months imprisonment.
• Shakar Ali (29/10/1998) of March Drive, Bury was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
• Ali Akbar Azam (26/02/1990) of Parkhills Road, Bury was sentenced to nine years imprisonment.
• Mohammed Shah Ahmed (12/07/1995) of Braemar Drive, Bury was sentenced to five years four months imprisonment.
• Waqas Ullah (07/09/1990) of Bury Road, Radcliffe was sentenced to four years six months imprisonment.

The operation, named Operation Tagula by officers, was a covert, intelligence-led investigation of an Organised Crime Group (OCG) based in Bury, who are involved in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine on a drugs line called the ACE line.

The OCG’s activity consisted mainly of subjects attending a Toyota Yaris which remained parked stationary on the residential car park from when the observations began. Mobile phone forensic analytics suggested the phone used in the drugs line was kept in the Yaris overnight.

Hassan Hussain was the lead role in the OCG, with Nasir Ali a high-ranking member of the OCG and a trusted member.

When the drug line was first switched on, a series of ‘flare messages’ were sent out advertising the sale of the drugs, letting customers know they are available for delivery. This tactic is ordinarily used by drug dealers to advertise the sale of drugs.

Between January and June 2023, the phone line sent out 38,635 text messages and almost 12,000 in return, with calls being made totalling 6,673 and 23,667 incoming.

The seven men were charged in June 2023 in connection with a suspected county lines criminal network.

Detective Constable Prince, the officer in charge of the case, said: “Operation Tagula was an investigation into the ACE drugs line where members of an organised crime group, supplied class A drugs around the Bury area of Greater Manchester.

“The sentences handed down today puts members of this crime group behind bars and sends a clear message to those who would blight the community of Bury with criminal activity, that it will not be tolerated, and we are determined to continue to bring criminals to justice and tackle the harm that organised crime causes our communities.

“Programme Challenger is Greater Manchester’s response to tackling serious and organised crime. It tackles all manner of serious crime: county lines, exploitation of young children and vulnerable adults, modern slavery, immigration and economic crime and the use of firearms.

“Our Challenger teams across Greater Manchester are committed to tackling county lines and we will act upon any concerns or information the community give to us to tackle serious and organised crime for good.

“If you are concerned about criminal activity within your area, you can report this to us directly on 101 or by reporting information using our online report tool at www.gmp.police.uk”