Operation Vulcan snare drug dealers in Piccadilly Gardens by posing as drug users

In November 2023, officers from Operation Vulcan, supported by specialist police from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, launched a major operation utilising covert tactics in Piccadilly Gardens to root out the drug dealers.

Before this operation was launched, we established that there were several drugs lines operating in the area and criminals viewed the city centre as an attractive place to commit crime. In order to tackle this issue, we had to be innovative.

Police identified several nominals were operating in different locations across Piccadilly Gardens and North Manchester, pushing drugs to customers.

After several months of the covert operation, detectives had enough evidence to strike.

On Tuesday 14 May, over 300 officers from across the force executed 23 warrants at addresses across Greater Manchester, and we had 24 alleged drug dealers in police custody, including Martin Joyce, who tried his very best to flee in his dressing gown. Unfortunately, he was no match for officers and specialist resources who tracked him down and arrested him in a nearby park.

One aspect of the operation targeted a drugs line that was primarily working in and around Ardwick Green Park. The area is a well-used children’s playground and is a key walking route. Unfortunately, over time, criminal gangs had exploited the park to engage in the illicit sale of drugs, which meant that the park had been plagued with drug users who would descend from the city centre to purchase drugs from local dealers, believing it to be a private and secure location.

Using phone data and cell site analysis, police were able to identify a network of drug dealers. To compliment this, police uncovered hundreds of incriminating messages and photographs relating to the sale of drugs.

It was clear from the messages that the Joyce’s sat at the top of this conspiracy, directing vulnerable adults and young people on when and where to deliver the drugs. Mark Togher and Thomas Hulme  were also dealing drugs for the brothers.

This group marketed to drug users, rather than wholesale purchasers. Often selling around £20 - £30 worth of crack cocaine and heroin at a time to users. They were busy, and experts estimate the value of drugs during this period to be worth an estimated £20,000.

As the investigation developed, police identified that the group were exploiting teenagers to sell drugs on their behalf. From extensive phone work, we were able to understand who the victims were and offer them diversionary and educational activity to safeguard them. By working closely with partners such as Youth Offending Teams and local schools, we were able to intervene and work with the youths and ensure they were supported rather than criminalised, giving them the chance to rebuild their lives.

On Tuesday 14 May, when the strikes were executed at their addresses, police seized large quantities of crack cocaine hidden inside various household items, cash, and debtors’ lists, and other drugs paraphernalia such as digital weighing scales and multiple mobile phones. As shown in the video, Martin Joyce tried his very best to escape in his dressing gown when officers attended Kenchester Avenue. On Bertram Street, Hulme was seen throwing items out of the window when he was alerted to the police. We later recovered two mobile phones which were connected to the JJ line.

The operation also focused on an alley in Piccadilly Gardens, known as Back Piccadilly. Over the years, owing to the private and secluded nature of the location, the area became an infamous place to deal drugs. Over a period of four months, the operation identified Ahmed Benny-Bah, Abdoulie Conteh, Francisco De Jesus, Abdiladif Mohammed, Dale Nish, Henry Solanke, Diane Stone, Demitrius Wright, Sait Jobe, Ashley Connors, Tolga Turkozh, Ibrahem Ibrahem, Darren Scholes, Ryan Chadwick, Younouss Sanni, Mohammed Omar, Julius Cole, and Ahmed Elgamodi.

Detectives demonstrated unwavering determination to make the city centre safer, and following a painstaking investigation, we were able to build watertight cases against the defendants, leaving them little choice but to plead guilty.

Over the past eight months, the defendants have appeared before the courts to be sentenced, and this week, our final men have been sentenced, bringing the overall jail time to over 85 years. In addition to lengthy prison sentences, many of the individuals have been subject to Criminal Behaviour Orders banning them from the area, ensuring the crime stays out upon their release. If they are found to be in Piccadilly Gardens and the surrounding areas, they will be arrested.

Detective Sergeant Matt Donnelly, who led the undercover operation, said: “From day one, we said we would do whatever it takes to drive out crime from Piccadilly Gardens, and this operation shows just that.

“This was a well-resourced and high stakes investigation to tackle the drugs trade in Piccadilly Gardens and the surrounding areas which was causing a nuisance to local businesses, residents, and those visiting our city. Its success was crucial to our overall aim of improving Piccadilly Gardens, and as a result of this operation, we’re confident that we have made an impact on the supply chain by securing these convictions.

“In order to ensure no other criminals could creep back in and fill this void, our regular patrols of the area have ramped up to provide a constant visible presence in the area, deterring criminals from thinking Piccadilly Gardens is a good place for their illicit business.”