(Image: GMP)
The cocky gang so confident about not getting caught they ended up incriminating themselves
by Ashlie Blakey · Manchester Evening NewsA business card that said 'WEED, COKE, KET' on and 'brazen' videos of wads of cash being flashed uncovered a web of drug-dealing in Manchester.
Five men have been jailed after the 'web of organised criminal activity' was unravelled. Police said they were all involved in drug lines across the city between 2021 and 2023.
The investigation into the drug-dealing first began in April 2022, Greater Manchester Police said. The business card advertising the drugs was handed to an off-duty police officer by a man driving a grey Audi.
READ NEXT: Three police cordons in place as man attacked in street after two-car smash
Officers identified the car as belonging to Ikram Malique and carried out a raid on his home. Police found more than £3,000 in cash at his address, as well as cannabis, MDMA, cocaine, ketamine and more business cards inside his car.
A search of Malique's phone uncovered 'numerous messages relating to the supply of drugs', police said, which dated back to April 2021. A WhatsApp chat named 'The Nittys Gaff' unmasked the four other suspects - Ismail Jeylani, Peter Braxton Abdul, Ratil Habibullah and Mamadou Jallow.
In the chat, the suspects discussed renting properties in and around Manchester city centre. Police suspected these were being used as 'stash' addresses to keep drugs and paraphernalia.
(Image: GMP)
Detectives were then able to uncover a large amount of evidence which revealed 'several strands of criminal activity'. The evidence included video clips filmed by Jeylani, where he flashed wads of thousands of pounds in cash - incriminating himself in dealings.
In another clip, Jeylani filmed himself parked outside a police station. Between August 2022 and January 2023, officers recovered 'large quantities' of Class A drugs in raids across the city centre apartments, as well as several phones, digital scales and snap bags.
(Image: GMP)
Business cards were found advertising six different drug lines, all with mobile phone numbers on. Police also seized more than £20,000 in cash.
At Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday (October 22), Malique, Jeylani, Abdul, Habibullah and Jallow were put behind bars for more than 27 years between them. Read their sentences, and offences, in full below.
(Image: GMP)
Ismail Jeylani, 23, of Beckhampton Close, Manchester was sentenced to four years 11 months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine and MDMA) and conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis and ketamine).
Peter Braxton Abdul, 23, of Morden Avenue, Manchester was sentenced to fours years 11 months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine and MDMA) and conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis and ketamine).
(Image: GMP)
Ratil Habibullah, 23, of Aston Avenue, Manchester, was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine) and conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis and ketamine).
Mamadou Jallow, 24, of Lynthorpe Road, Manchester, was sentenced to four years 11 months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine and MDMA) and conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis and ketamine).
(Image: GMP)
Ikram Malique, 23, of Westman Drive, Manchester, was sentenced to four years six months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine and MDMA) and conspiracy to supply class B drugs (cannabis and ketamine).
Three other men received suspended sentences, police said. After the sentencing, Detective Inspector Paul Ashton, of GMP's Serious Organised Crime Group, said: "These sentencings are the culmination of a long investigation, in which our officers uncovered a web of organised criminal activity.
(Image: GMP)
"The interesting aspect of this investigation was that the drug dealers distributed business cards with their phones numbers on, they were so brazen in their efforts and confident about not getting caught. Our officers found incriminating evidence on the phone of Jeylani, where he had filmed himself and others involved in these drug lines showing off wads of cash they had obtained from criminal means.
"He even parked outside police stations and gloated about his drug dealing activity. But by doing this, Jeylani ended up incriminating himself as we were able to use his video recordings against him.
(Image: GMP)
"I’m glad that we have reached this point and taken five dangerous criminals off the streets of Manchester. Our Challenger teams across Greater Manchester are committed to tackling serious and organised crime and we will act upon any concerns or information the community give to us to tackle these crimes.
"If you are concerned about criminal activity within your area, you can report this to us directly on 101 or by reporting information using our online report tool at www.gmp.police.uk."