A Middleton man and his gang who ran a drug operation across the North West worth millions of pounds have been jailed for more than 50 years.
The Manchester-based gang, led by Ricci Ferrari from Middleton, was found supplying cocaine and heroin in wholesale amounts through a drugs line that operated across the region.
More locally, the criminal gang supplied drugs to street dealers in the Moston and Harpurhey areas of Manchester.
In a 10-week period from March to June 2020, it is estimated the six men moved 25.5kg of heroin and cocaine worth £1.15 million while relying on a series of 'safe houses', often drug users' homes, to store and prepare drugs.
Greater Manchester Police managed to uncover the widespread operation after key members of the gang were put under surveillance in August 2020.
Ringleader Ferrari and his accomplices, Anthony Davies and Stuart Shears, were closely monitored.
The Middleton man had tried to give the impression he was running a legitimate property company, however, officers discovered he was using criminal money to fund his business while Davies and Shears ran the drugs line for him.
On December 7, 2020, police officers found 1.42kg of heroin and 21kg of mixing agent at Thorverton Square in Moston.
As a result of that warrant, two more members of the gang - Steven Aronwich and Ryan Roberts - were arrested after they attempted to flee the raid.
Just two weeks later, a house on Ibbotsen Walk was also raided where 1.1kg of cocaine, 1kg of mixing agent and a small amount of heroin was recovered.
Shears and another gang member, Callum Hunt, were then seen meeting at a Manchester city centre hotel on January 5, 2021, where it is believed they had counted money and discussed the gang’s accounts.
After the meeting, Shears was followed by GMP to Tweedle Hill Road, Blackley, where three 1kg blocks of cocaine and £167,000 in cash were found and seized.
Some of the money was found in a bathtub and a large amount ‘stuffed’ into a sofa.
When GMP searched Shears' Stockport home, they found £2,000 in cash in the bedroom, a special edition Pinarello Dogma bicycle valued at more than £10,000 and a Wattbike worth around £3,000.
His home had further been extensively renovated throughout, including the rear garden that had been "landscape at great expense".
Ferrari was arrested on 21 January 2021 on suspicion of conspiracy to deal class A drugs and charged along with Shears and Davies.
At Manchester Crown Court yesterday (Thursday), all six were sentenced to a total of 54 years between them.
Ricci Ferrari of Alcester Close, Middleton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, money laundering and assisting an offender.
The 38-year-old gang leader has been imprisoned for 12 years.
Stuart Shears of Ravenoak Road in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, money laundering and assisting an offender.
The 52-year-old was sentenced to 12 years behind bars.
Anthony Davies, 38, of Gisburne Avenue, Moston, pleaded guilty to the same charges as Ferrari and Shears and now faces the same 12-year sentence.
Callum Hunt, 33, of Caen Avenue, Moston, was jailed for seven years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
Ryan Roberts of Branston Road, Moston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
The 33-year-old also pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody and was jailed for five years and nine months.
Finally, Steven Aronwich, 32, of Anfield Road, Moston, pleaded guilty to supply class A drugs and was jailed for five years and two months.
Detective Chief Inspector Claire McGuire, of GMP's Serious Crime Division, said: "We have taken out a drugs line from top to bottom that not only removes a number of drug dealers from the street but also their drugs.
"This was a complete operation with drugs coming in from Europe, from Spain and the Netherlands, cut with a mixing agent and then distributed via a network of street sellers.
"They made a massive profit from mixing the drugs and selling it on the streets."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here