Five jailed as officers uncover sophisticated drugs distribution network after five-month covert operation

Yesterday (Thursday 5 February 2026), five defendants involved in a large-scale drug distribution network based in Manchester have been collectively jailed for more than 40 years.

Officers from our Serious Organised Crime Unit targeted the group in a covert operation that lasted five months.

The network involved the multi-kilo supply of Class A and B drugs and over £50,000 was seized during the arrests.

David Austin (16/11/1985) of St Bartholomew’s Drive, Salford, controlled the safehouses and coordinated the couriers and was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis. He has been jailed for 13 years and six months.

Michael Creag (29/04/1965) of Alexandra Grove, Irlam, acted as a courier and was charged conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis. He has been jailed for nine years.

Richard Bass (17/04/1993) of Tame Street, Denton, was a courier and was involved in long distance drug deliveries and was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis. He has been jailed for eight years and three months.

Mala Patel (03/02/1969) of Lowton, acted as a courier and was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis. She has been jailed for seven years and four months.

Carrie Anderson (21/02/1986) of Delamere Avenue, Swinton, was a local distributor and cash collector and was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis. She has been jailed for four years and four months.

Another suspect referred to as ‘Hamas’ or ‘Sinwar’ is an unidentified Dubai based head of the group who directed movement and distribution of drugs around the UK.

The covert investigation took place from February to June 2025 and followed earlier operations which disrupted the same organised crime group.

Despite arrests in these earlier operations, the group continued its activities by recruiting new members and using the same vehicles, routes and customers.

The investigation started on 18 February with surveillance focused on Michael Creag who was seen to travel on a regular basis across the UK including Manchester, Bolton, Plymouth, Chester and Coventry where he was involved in exchanges with what transpired to be Class A and B drug supply.

Creag regularly did this with his partner Mala Patel, and they would be rewarded with vehicles purchased by the group and large sums of cash for each journey.

The investigation team quickly identified David Austin was the controller of the drugs safehouse, supplier of the cocaine and conducted some of the local Greater Manchester based drug courier journeys.

On 16 March, Patel threatened to leave the group after an argument with Creag and gave back her courier vehicle, cash counting machine and drug stock.

Days later on 18 March, Patel reconnects with Creag who is in Albania at the time and tells him that Austin is using his courier vehicle until he returns back from Albania, and she has been given a new vehicle to continue her role in the group.

On 25 March, Patel tries to reconnect with Creag and get back in his good grace by offering to conduct criminal courier journeys with him as friends, referring to themselves as Bonnie and Clyde.

On 28 March, Creag and Patel are seen to visit Austin at his safehouse on St Bartholomew’s Drive in Salford. Messages from a seized phone showed Patel discussing plans with Creag later that day in which he was sent on a cash collection journey.

The same day, a grey Vauxhall Vivaro belonging to Richard Bass was seen to travel from Denton to Austin’s safehouse where Austin was observed to exit his address and pass Bass a rectangular item wrapped in tape believed to have been a kilo of cocaine.

On 3 April, Creag was on a criminal courier journey and was stopped by police on Oldfield Road in Salford with around 11.5 kilos of cannabis in the boot of his car and was arrested. Four mobile phones were also seized.

Austin and Patel were alerted to Creag’s arrest and were observed by our teams to begin hurriedly empty large bags of suspected drugs from his safehouse into his van before driving off.

On 31 May, more messages recovered from Austin’s phone showed him being asked to go to Carrie Anderson’s in which he arrived at her address on Delamere Avenue in Salford. The messages suggested he had met her and collected the cash, before sending a picture of the cash in a blue plastic bag.

The same day ‘Sinwar’ directs a large restock of cocaine to Austin who collects 15 kilos of cocaine and is instructed by ‘Sinwar’ to take a photo of them.  The cocaine is then prepped and sent to customers the following day through a number of couriers.

On 8 June, ‘Sinwar’ asked Austin to parcel up some cash from collections to pass onto a courier, which amounted up to £50,000.

On 11 June, our surveillance officers observed ‘Sinwar’ arranging for Austin to pass three kilos of cocaine to Creag who then directed a delivery to a customer in the Chester area. The next day Creag is supplied with two kilos of cocaine by Austin whilst under surveillance by police.

Creag and Patel travel to Coventry to supply a customer and are intercepted by police coming off the motorway in Coventry and are arrested whilst in possession of the drugs which are in the front passenger footwell.

A short time later, officers arrested Austin in his vehicle in Eccles where a large amount of uncounted cash and a small set of scales were seized.

Officers searched Austin’s VW Golf where they also recovered two kilos of cocaine.

The group were evidenced to have supplied during the conspiracy period a total of 46 kilos of cocaine, 68 pounds of cannabis and 4.5 kilos of heroin.

Detective Sergeant Richard McCorry from our Serious Organised Crime Division said: “Today’s results are a culmination of tireless work from our team to dismantle a dangerous network piece by piece.

“This group operated on a highly sophisticated level using encrypted phones, code names, and a network of couriers and safe houses to move vast quantities of drugs and thousands of pounds.

“This case highlights the importance of collaboration across law enforcement and the value of intelligence-led policing. We are sending a clear message: if you are involved in organised crime, we will find you, we will catch you, and we will bring you to justice.”