Ringleader’s life of luxury ends in jail

Mohammed Farid

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THE ringleader of an Oldham drugs gang has been jailed for almost 20 years.

Mohammed Farid (38) of Wellington Road, Coppice, who masqueraded as a businessman and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle with several properties and expensive cars, admitted conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis as well as money-laundering offences.

He was sentenced to 14 years and five months for the drugs offences and three and a half years to run consecutively for the other offences.

Police are now trying to recover cash and assets from his crimes.

Detectives launched an investigation — Operation Walrus — in June 2008, after the landlord of a house in Chamber Road, being rented by Farid, discovered drugs inside.

It became apparent that Farid was the head of the drugs factory.

During the operation, 27 kilos of heroin, 250g of cocaine and three commercial cannabis farms with a street value of £2.5million were recovered.

With the help of family members, Farid laundered his criminal gains, purchasing businesses in the local area as well as property and cars.

Eight members of Farid’s crime gang have already been sentenced to more than 46 years behind bars.

Also sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court were:

Syed Rashid Bukhari (47) of Harper Street, Coppice, was found guilty of money laundering and fraud (four and a half years followed by deportation); Mustapha Ahmed (26) of Roundthorn Road, Oldham was sentenced to two years for money laundering.

Zilfiqar Ali (52) of Roundthorn Road, Oldham was given eight months for money laundering and mortgage fraud.

Riaz Bibi (45) of Wellington Road, Coppice, got nine months for obtaining a mortgage fraudulently.

Mohammed Asad (45) of Lowside Drive, Glodwick, pleaded guilty to providing a false record that allowed Riaz to get the mortgage. He was sentenced to nine months suspended for 24 months, and 200 hours of unpaid work.


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