Oldham men jailed for drugs, firearms and counterfeit money

A judge at Manchester Crown Court sentenced five men for various offences this week after cannabis, cocaine, ketamine, guns, counterfeit money, Rolex watches and incriminating text messages were discovered in two major operations.

The operation saw a warrant executed at an address on December 11, 2020, where officers found two bags of white powder in a bag hanging from a hook under the stairs.

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Tests carried out by experts revealed the white powder was 70 per cent and 63 per cent 'purity' for cocaine and another grip-style bag found at the property was 79 per cent purity.

Approximately £25,000 of cash was seized as well as two mobile phones which were sent for forensic analytic investigation.

 Brian Threadgale is from Oldham (Image: GMP)

Text messages between Brian Threadgale, Warren Ali and a third man were uncovered in which they discussed cocaine for sale.

Ali said in the messages that he could secure one kilogram of the class A drug for £47,000.

Further evidence from the phones recorded a kilo of cannabis was sourced from Threadgale, Ali and another party, as well as kilo amounts of ketamine which Threadgale reportedly bought in bulk.

Between September 12, 2020, and December 4, 2020, text messages further showed that £10,000 was invested to one man to pay for the production of counterfeit currency at a return of £20,000, with £20,000 being counterfeit.

The second operation saw armed officers carry out a warrant at Janade Parvez of Cotton Mill Crescent on December 4, 2023, who was suspected of possessing a firearm.

Janade Parvez of Cotton Mill Crescent (Image: GMP)

Several weapons, including an air rifle, a large amount of cash, and mobile phones were seized from the property.

A hydraulic press was also seized from the address which contained traces of heroin.

Parvez's car was searched and a quantity of class A drugs was found.

His phone was also analysed and conversations were discovered between him and other men around the supply of class A and B drugs.

Greater Manchester Police found he had been in conversation with an unknown individual about sourcing large amounts of heroin from Pakistan.

An image of a Colt semi-automatic firearm was also found.

On January 16 this year, more warrants were carried out at his address and another at Stanley Road in Mossley, the home of Taylor Inman, where officers recovered drugs, cash, mobile phones and two Rolex watches which were seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).

Taylor Inman from Mossley (Image: GMP)

Russell Bryan was then arrested at his home on Oakbridge Road, Harpurhey, on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class B drugs.

Threadgale was subsequently visited at HMP Buckley Hall, where he was serving a sentence for his role in another matter.

He refused to be interviewed and was charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and a search of his cell uncovered a mobile phone.

The five men were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court yesterday (Friday, October 25).

Janade Parvez of Cotton Mill Crescent in Oldham pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs, mainly crack cocaine and heroin, and two counts of being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of a Colt semi-automatic pistol.

The 27-year-old has been sentenced to nine years and nine months.

Warren Ali from Liverpool (Image: GMP)

Warren Ali of Brelade Road, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B drugs, possession of class B drugs with intent to supply and possession of criminal property.

The 38-year-old has been jailed for three years.

Taylor Inman of Staley Road in Mossley pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

The 30-year-old was sentenced to 12 months.

Russell Bryan of Oakbridge Road, Harpurhey pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

The 31-year-old was sentenced to two years and three months.

Brian Threadgate, 37, of no fixed address but 'of the Oldham area' was investigated as part of both operations and was jailed for five years.

A sixth man who pleaded guilty also received a conditional discharge due to serving an extended sentence previously.

Russell Bryan of Harpurhey (Image: GMP)

DC Brown of the Oldham Challenger team said: “Both of these investigations were complex, with many moving parts.

“The initial stages were fast, with us securing warrants quickly following the influx of information and then they slowed down once we have to wait for the data on the seized mobile phones to be downloaded and forensically analysed.

"Today’s results have only reinforced our mission of identifying, locating and charging those individuals who are involved in drugs and organised crime.

“The illegal drug market impacts communities across Greater Manchester and is responsible for a large amount of organised crime across our area.

“This then leads to a number of other crimes, including violence, anti-social behaviour, and criminal exploitation.

"It also harms people’s health and wider society.

“As a force, we have launched the region’s first multi-agency drugs strategy which looks to build on the success we are experiencing in targeting, disrupting, and dismantling drugs gangs who thrive off the vulnerability of others.

“Partnering with other agencies and drug experts enables us to be informed when it comes to the activity of moving and dealing drugs, resulting in making more arrests and seizures.

“We have also made great strides in tackling firearms on the streets of Manchester over the last few years and in the last three years alone, we have confiscated 252 illegal firearms and have put organised crime members in prison to serve sentences of almost 500 years.

“Today’s sentences will now be added to this total.

“We have zero tolerance for this kind of activity happening on the streets of Manchester and our message is very clear – if you choose to be involved in organised criminal activity, we will find you and you will be locked up.”

 Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk