Four men from Greater Manchester, including one from Cheetham Hill, have been jailed for a combined total of almost 50 years following a major police investigation into a nationwide cocaine supply conspiracy. The case has shed light on the scale of organised drug trafficking affecting communities across the region, including Oldham.

Usman Majeed, Waqar Mohammed Ishfaq, Brandon Lawrence and Nasar Ali were sentenced at Winchester Crown Court after an investigation by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit. Majeed, Ishfaq and Lawrence each pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, while Ali was convicted of one count of supplying cocaine. Ali, 38, of Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, was jailed for 11 years and four months.

The court heard that between April and September 2024, the men were involved in a large-scale conspiracy to supply cocaine across England. They travelled extensively, using short-term accommodation, particularly in the Coventry area, to distribute wholesale quantities of the drug. Phone data and financial records showed that the group was responsible for supplying an estimated 1,600kg to 2,400kg of cocaine during this period.

In addition, Majeed, Ishfaq and Lawrence were involved in a separate conspiracy linked to the importation of nearly 900kg of cocaine by sea. On 8 July 2024, a rigid hulled inflatable boat was used to transport cocaine into Southampton. While police seized a significant quantity of the drug, the trio were found to have received 250kg of cocaine from another organised crime group member later that day. In total, officers recovered over 600kg of cocaine.

The investigation was connected to a previous case in which seven men were jailed in September 2024 for attempting to import cocaine through Southampton. Nasar Ali was not involved in the Southampton operation but played a key role in the wider supply network, according to police.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Dan Hope, said: "Between them, this organised crime group was responsible for the importation and supply of vast quantities of cocaine, causing significant harm to communities across the UK. These substantial sentences should serve as a clear warning to anyone considering using the coastline to import drugs – we will find you, and we will bring you before the courts."

The sentences have been welcomed as a blow to serious organised crime in Greater Manchester. For residents of Oldham, the case highlights the ongoing work by police to disrupt drug supply chains that can fuel local crime and harm neighbourhoods. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to tackling drug trafficking and protecting communities from its effects.