Inside the murky underworld of contracted enforcers and 'professional gangsters' being dismantled one gun at a time

The spectre of gun crime rose again in Manchester this week. A teenager was shot and stabbed in Gorton, suffering serious injuries at the hands of would-be killers on bikes.

The attempted murder shocked a neighbourhood; a grim reminder that deadly weapons are still a very real threat on our streets. Two men were being questioned by cops in the wake of the shocking explosion of violence.

Greater Manchester Police say it's a threat they're determined to eliminate. They will continue to 'relentlessly' chase 'those involved in serious violence'. They're making significant progress. Latest figures, bosses say, show they're getting a grip on the problem.

READ MORE: Would-be killers attacked teenager with knives and gun before attempted murder probe launched

Between 2020 and 2023, GMP seized more firearms than any other force in the north west - accounting for 58 per cent of recoveries in the region. In that period, 232 guns were seized by the force.

Targeted operations and ongoing prevention work with young people across Greater Manchester has seen real results. In the last 12 months, the force has dismantled several criminal networks and secured jail sentences totalling more than 300 years.

GMP reports a steady decrease in known firearms discharges. There were 58 in 2021; 29 in 2022; and 26 in 2023. There have been 18 incidents involving guns in 2024 to date.

Greater Manchester has not seen a fatal shooting since March 2023, when Zikel Bobmanuel was shot dead by his half-brother Rumaal Ingram, who later admitted manslaughter.

"Work is always ongoing behind to stay ahead of the criminals and manage serious incidents before they ever occur," a force spokesperson said. "Our proactive investigations into the importation and supply of firearms in Greater Manchester and across the region have resulted in record breaking hauls and some of the UKs most harmful offenders being put behind bars for decades."

In March last year, five men linked to organised crime were jailed for a total of 47 years. The group was involved in disputes with other gangs. Following an alleged attack on a family friend, one of the group bought a gun and took matters into his own hands.

A shot was fired at premises on Eccles New Road. Fleeing the scene, the men caused a serious crash where. Members of the group were caught on CCTV running from the chaos, disposing of their clothes, balaclavas and the loaded gun in a bin.

The gun was sourced by Nathan Vanden, a 'professional gangster' from Salford who orchestrated rival attacks and the supply of weapons. Nicknamed Vlad the Impaler, had fled to Holland in 2019. Following extensive work with international law enforcement, the crime lord was arrested, extradited and jailed for 26 years for his role as a contracted enforcer for high-level criminals.

In December 2023, members of a gang were jailed for a total of 199 years for their roles in an organised crime outfit responsible for drugs and firearms trafficking, which experts claim to be among the highest levels ever encountered by UK law enforcement.

During an investigation which spanned over three years, GMP recovered over 1,000 rounds of ammunition; six guns including two Skorpion sub-machine guns; millions of pounds-worth of class A drugs; and over £500,000 in cash. A stash house at Ancoats Marina was used to store weapons, bullets and drugs.

Adrian Gonzalez - the gangster in charge of the stash house - was jailed for 25 years. The gang's ringleader - Omar Malik - was jailed for 38 years, while four other conspirators were also handed lengthy prison sentences.

In May this year, the full details of the operation to take down a pair of EncroChat criminals - following discovery of thousands of messages, guns stashed in a shed and a 'Mexican drug lord' username - were revealed in court.

Najeef Saleem and Nahidul Monaf were first investigated by police back in 2019. Detectives received further intelligence to strengthen their case in 2020, when the National Crime Agency (NCA) handed over with thousands of messages on the encrypted platform.

One evening in October 2019, cops raided a house on Kingsway in Cheadle, Stockport, and found two self-loading pistols and ammunition stashed in a shed in the garden. They were both later jailed - Saleem for 22 years; Monaf for 10.

Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop, head of Serious Organised Crime at GMP said: "Our relentless pursuit of those involved in serious violence and firearms enabled criminality continues, and it is positive to see a reduction in firearms discharges and an increase in recoveries of these fatal weapons.

"Many of those involved in this type of crime have received substantial prison sentences as a result of our proactive operations which are further preventing harm, sparing our communities from further misery and depravity at the hands of criminals.

"Whilst most firearms incidents are targeted and do not pose a threat to the wider public, we know the fear and anxiety these incidents cause amongst our communities.

"Our focus therefore remains on intensifying action and we will continue to make crucial arrests, execute warrants, recover firearms, and hold those involved in the use, supply, and conversion of firearms in Greater Manchester to account."