Oldham drug conspirator and money launderer jailed following multi million-pound cocaine and heroin plot
Date published: 04 November 2022
Nabeel Rasheed
An Oldham drug conspirator has been caged for his involvement in a multi million-pound cocaine and heroin plot.
Nabeel Rasheed (aged 29), of Southbank Road in Bury, was a major player in a Class A drug ring in Oldham.
He has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin and conspiracy to money launder.
At the forefront of this sentencing is the use of Encrypted mobile phones, which falls under Operation Venetic, the UK’s response to infiltrate and disrupt the ‘Encrochat’ communication system used by organised criminal networks.
Operation Venetic is led by the NCA and is the UK’s largest operation to fight organised crime.
The technology behind these devices previously made it impossible for law enforcement to obtain any data or evidence from these devices.
Unfortunately for the organised criminals, officers were able to access the ‘Encrochat’ data through a legal data hack to secure illicit communications provided by the NCA, which has enabled police to secure the conviction of Rasheed.
This follows the sentencing earlier this year of ringleader Faizal Hussain (31) and associate Rezwan Javed (45), who are currently serving a combined total of 24 years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs, and conspiracy to conceal, convert, disguise, or transfer criminal property.
Rasheed was found to have been using the alias ‘LIMITEDTURTLE’ while messaging other organised crime group members using encrypted mobile devices to prevent police from detecting their conversations.
The court heard how Rasheed was involved with the organised crime groups purchase of at least 15 kilos of cocaine and 9.5 kilos of heroin between April and June 2020, as well as breaking down the batches of drugs into smaller amounts which were then sold on to distributers who would supply it to their customers from areas as far as Bradford and Liverpool.
On Friday, July 16, 2021, officers conducted surveillance where Rasheed was identified carrying two bin liners and a further bag into his home address.
Over 14 kilos of cocaine were recovered in his bedroom and packaging from over 100 kilos which had been broken up.
The potential wholesale value of the 14 kilos was £529,000.
The potential street value of the drugs identified from the kilo packaging would be up to £3.6 million.
The results of the search mirrored the events shown in the encrypted messages.
Detective Constable Marc Walby, of GMP Serious and Organised Crime Group (SOCG), said: "This gang thought they were able to avoid detection by using these devices; they have instead presented us with a treasure trove of evidence that has enabled us to take this criminal group off our streets and highlight our commitment to removing drugs from our communities.
"Our team worked meticulously with other agencies to piece together a timeline of Rasheed’s actions to bring about charges and then a conviction for his crimes.
"The severity of his offences should not be underestimated, and the quantities of drugs we are talking about here are beyond substantial.
"The removal of Rasheed and his associates will have a discernible difference on the streets of Oldham and across the north west.
“Information or concerns from the public regarding drug supply in your area plays a key part in our process.
"If you have any information which may aid our investigations into the trade of drugs across Greater Manchester, then please get in touch with us on the numbers provided below."
If you have any concerns or see anything suspicious, contact police directly on 101 or: gmp.police.uk, or via Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Always call 999 in an emergency.
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