One of the biggest stashes of illicit tobacco ever seized in the UK has been found in Bolton. The haul, worth an estiamted £4.1m was discovered after police and teading standards officers raided premises in Manchester Road.
23.05.2023 - 16:31 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A drug-dealer has been jailed after police found his hidden stash of cannabis, cocaine and crack cocaine in a lock-up - valued together at more than £100,000.
Speaking after his conviction and sentencing, detectives said the huge haul indicated Andrew Farren was operating at an 'organised' level and had 'a lot of experience'.
Police said the seizure came after a HM Revenue and Customs officer carried out a search of a storage unit in the Failsworth area of Oldham and forced his way into a container rented by Farren, 55.
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The drugs were found inside together with a key to a safe, in which more cocaine was discovered alongside a 'burner' mobile phone and a 'dealer book' of contacts, Greater Manchester Police added.
Farren, of Turnberry Walk, Crumpsall, Manchester, went on to admit the drugs belonged to him. He's now been jailed for five years.
Detective Constable Jake Orr, of GMP's Operation Challenger team, said: "This quantity of drugs shows the level Farren was operating at - he was organised, with a lot of experience which could only be developed over a considerable amount of time.
"I hope the sentencing goes to show no matter how organised or sophisticated you may think you are, our detectives will proactively pursue all available lines of enquiry and take robust action against you. Though some work into drug investigations can't always be seen, there is a lot going on behind the scenes."
The stash of drugs - as well as £73,000 in cash - went on to be recovered after the HMRC investigator alerted police. A GMP spokesman added: "An HMRC officer was carrying out a search of a storage unit in Failsworth in December, 2022 and forced his way into the
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