Drugs gang rumbled by their own CCTV cameras jailed

On Friday (May 26), the men appeared at Manchester Crown Court where they were sentenced for their roles in a Rochdale-based drugs gang where 23 kilos of cocaine and more than £15,000 in cash were uncovered.

Usman Yousuf, 31, was sentenced to 12 years in jail after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Mohammed Majeed, 30, was sentenced to nine years and 10 months after he pleaded guilty to the same offence.

The three have been jailed for their roles in the gang (Image: GMP)

Azaan Tariq, 20, was sentenced to three years and four months after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

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The trio were rumbled when their movements were captured by Yousuf's own CCTV cameras which ultimately gave police an insight into their criminal enterprise.

In July 2022, the footage caught Yousuf arriving home with a large and heavy blue holdall at around 8pm.

Then an hour later, Majeed arrived at the same address and left with the same bag.

Majeed was then seen dropping the bag at a shipping container in Rochdale.

Three days later, Greater Manchester Police executed a warrant at Yousuf's home and discovered receipts in his car, showing large cash deposits, as well as drugs paraphernalia consistent with a large-scale drug operation such as food bags and scales with residues of cocaine.

Almost £15,000 in cash and nine large bags of cocaine were also seized from his car.

Inside his house, officers found more cash hidden away and multiple phones - and seized the incriminating CCTV footage.

Later that evening, Majeed was seen leaving his house with the blue holdall and making his way to the shipping container.

But when he arrived home, officers arrested Majeed and searched his home where they found multiple phones and sim cards connecting him to the enterprise and more than £500 concealed in a cushion.

The following day (Tuesday, July 26, 2022), officers searched the shipping container that CCTV footage had caught the trio visiting.

The bag had 23 kilos of cocaine inside - valued at around £700,000 (Image: GMP)

Inside, they found the large blue holdall which contained 23 kilograms of cocaine valued at around £700,000.

Tariq was then arrested two days later after he was spotted on Yousef's CCTV camera coming and going from the property with heavy carrier bags.

The search of his home similarly uncovered multiple hidden mobile phones.

The phones of the gang were later examined and detailed their conversations, movements and drug supply across Rochdale. 

Detective Inspector Roger Smethurst of GMP Serious Organised Crime Group said: "Today's sentencings come as a result of months of hard work by detectives who launched an investigation as part of GMP’s continued crackdown on drug supply in the region which blights our local communities.

"Drugs on the streets can have a huge effect on communities and are often a catalyst for serious crime due to drug disputes, and today's sentencings are another step forward in disrupting serious, organised crime and removing dangerous individuals off our streets.

"As always, we would ask that anyone with information of drug supply in the community or anyone with concerns to please get in touch.

"Intelligence from members of the public continuously helps us with our on-going investigations - no matter how small the information may seem."

Information can be reported online using GMP's LiveChat service or the independent charity, Crimestoppers, can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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