Gang who ran one of their multi-million pound network of cannabis farms from Sheffield are jailed

Operation Tisdale was launched in March 2016 to interrupt and dismantle a large organised crime group who conspired to produce, package and sell industrial-sized quantities of cannabis on a national scale.

The near-30-strong criminal enterprise were employed in the conspiracy as farmers, managers, quartermasters and directors to sustain the operation.

On Thursday 21 July 2016 officers from GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group orchestrated 12 raids across the Greater Manchester and Cheshire areas in a joint operation with the immigration service, North West Electricity and local authorities.

Officers discovered cannabis farms reaching an approximate total worth of £6million across Crumpsall, Moss Side, Wythenshawe, Stretford, Salford, Droylsden, Rochdale and Wilmslow.

Other farms were discovered in Rotherham and Sheffield.

Enquiries established that the produce of these farms had reached a number of areas in Manchester and Sheffield but also in areas further south in Swindon.

Twenty-six people were arrested, charged convicted of offences including conspiracy to supply class B drugs, money laundering and false documentation.

The last two, Elton Omuri (01/01/1992) of Chippenham Road, Manchester and Toni Boboshi (06/02/1974) of Pyramid Court, Manchester were sentenced on Tuesday, April 17 at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square for conspiracy to supply class B drugs after pleading not guilty at an earlier hearing.

Omuri was sentenced to four years imprisonment and Boboshi was sentenced to six years imprisonment.

Detective Inspector Karen Ryan of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Team, said: “Professing to be part of a sophisticated operation, the group used false names, false addresses and fraudulent documentation to avoid detection by the authorities, frustrate police investigations and attempt to evade criminal prosecution.

“They stretched far beyond the borders of Greater Manchester, pumping the proceeds of their crimes into other cities spreading the detrimental effects of drug supply across the nation.

“We have been able to collect evidence and following strong lines of enquiry thanks to the members of the community who notified us of the group’s wrongdoings and have been invaluable in our pursue to prosecute them.

“This has been an intense investigation which has relied on the intelligence and the trust of the community and today, we can confidently say these people are safely behind bars, unable to profit from the proceeds of their illicit activity or continue to spread harm through the streets of the United Kingdom.”

Anyone with information about crime in their area should contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.