Bury man, 25, jailed for 14 years for possessing firearms and drugs

Adil Choudhry of Belbeck Street, Bury was sentenced along with four other men from Stretford, Whalley Range and Old Trafford after officers conducted Operation Baudin.

Hazara Singh, aged 22, of Upper Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, was sentenced to four years imprisonment for conspiracy to supply class A and B controlled drugs.

Amaar Zulfiqar, aged 23, of Lyndhurst Road, Stretford was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for conspiracy to supply class A and B controlled drugs.

Mohsin Choudhry, aged 23, of Northumberland Crescent, Stretford was sentenced to four years imprisonment for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Haider Ali of Green Walk, Whalley Range was also sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for conspiracy to supply class A and B controlled drugs and possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

Insp Tony Norman of the city of Manchester division said: “These men were engaged in a well organised criminal enterprise which posed a significant threat to the people in Greater Manchester.

“Thanks to the relentless work of our police officers these men are facing long jail sentences and their continued distribution of drugs and criminal use of firearms on our streets, has been stalled.

“I hope today’s sentencing serves as an example to those involved in organised crime that we will pursue them, and makes clear what the consequences are for anybody who chooses a life of violence and drug dealing.”

In December 2018, Ali and Adil Choudhry, who is known to police as a longstanding member of an organised crime group, were spotted by police surveillance on several occasions at properties in Northumberland Crescent and Wilbraham Road in Chorlton.

On Wednesday 13 February 2019 police surveillance saw Choudhry visit the property again on Wilbraham Road.

CCTV footage also showed Zulfiqar and Singh using a key to let themselves in to the property on Wilbraham Road more than 30 times in February 2019.

On Thursday 28 February 2019 warrants were carried out by police at Green Walk, Wilbraham Road, Northumberland Crescent and Belbeck Street aimed at disrupting the supply of drugs and organised crime.

Officers seized four handguns, ammunition, cocaine, cannabis and approximately £16,000.

Ali was found at his home in Green Walk and was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs.

Officers then asked Ali if there was anything that could cause harm to them within the address.

Ali then directed officers back to his bedroom where they found a pistol containing three live rounds of ammunition.

Ali was then arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with the intent to endanger life and police also recovered approximately £6000 cash hidden in the cellar of the house.

Police uncovered a drugs mixing factory at Wilbraham Road and approximately a kilogram of cannabis skunk packaged in clear food bags and around a quarter kilo of cocaine packaged in various weights were found in the property.

Scales and mixing agents were also discovered and two further revolver handguns with ammunition were seized at that location, in addition to a deactivated Glock handgun.

Choudhry was arrested at Belbeck Street in Bury on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs, and possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life and officers also found the key that was used to enter the property on Wilbraham Rd at his address.

On February 29, both Haider and Ali were charged with possession of firearms with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to supply class B drugs and conspiracy to supply class A drugs and Adil Choudhry was also charged with money laundering.

On June 4, searches were conducted at the home addresses of Mohsin Choudhry and Zulfiqar where they were arrested and later charged.

On June 25, Singh was arrested at his home address of 64 Upper Chorlton Road, Old Trafford. He too was subsequently charged