38,635 text messages and 30,340 calls: Inside the life of the drugs gang boss who watched over his empire from home

-Credit: (Image: Greater Manchester Police)
-Credit: (Image: Greater Manchester Police)


A drugs gang responsible for supplying crack cocaine and heroin into a Greater Manchester town have been jailed for a total of 53 years.

Last week six men were jailed for their part in the conspiracy. Today, September 11, the leader of the gang, Hassan Hussein, was jailed for 17 years.

Asam Hussein; Nasir Ali; Shakar Ali; Ali Akbar Azam; Mohammed Shah Ahmed and Waqas Ullah were each convicted of two counts of conspiring to supply cocaine and heroin, money laundering and supplying cocaine.

READ MORE: The Toyota Yaris in a quiet car park at the centre of a £500k drugs racket

The court heard that the group operated out of an unassuming, abandoned Toyota Yaris that remained parked in a car park in Bury. Hassan Hussein was able to observe his group's activities as his address in South Bank Road overlooked the car park.

Prosecutor Joshua Bowker previously said that between January and June 2023, the group - led by Hassan Hussain - conspired to supply huge amounts of crack and heroin. Police were, however, successful in bringing them down.

"Despite the very great care taken by the gang to avoid detection, covert surveillance by police officers, taken together with telecommunications evidence, enabled the authorities to identify the key figures within the organisation and the methods used," Mr Bowker added.

"When, in June 2023, police officers executed co-ordinated arrests of the defendants involved and searched their home addresses, cash totalling in excess of £50,000 was seized, affording an insight into the scale of the operation."

Hassan Hussain
Hassan Hussain -Credit:Greater Manchester Police

The court heard the 'Ace Line' advertised and sold drugs to a number of customers.

Greater Manchester Police have said that over a five-month period, the phone line sent out 38,635 text messages and received almost 12,000 in return, with calls being made totalling 6,673 outgoing and 23,667 incoming.

Those running the line - at the 'top' of the conspiracy - took steps to distance themselves from the operation, all the while ensuring they had 'ready access'. They stored the phone and some of the drugs in a Toyota Yaris in a car park on South Bank Road in Bury.

Brothers Hassan and Asam Hussain lived on the same road and were able to 'maintain a close eye'. The mobile was collected from the Yaris at the start of the day by whoever was responsible for running the 'day shift'.

It was then either returned or transferred directly to the 'night shift' operative, often under the supervision of Hassan Hussain. In May 2023, the Yaris was towed away, which led to the group to 'cover their tracks'.

Asam Hussain
Asam Hussain -Credit:Greater Manchester Police

When each was arrested, there was minimal evidence of drugs and several of the group had deleted the contents of their phones. "Other addresses were important to the operation including the home address of Ali Akbar Azam, which acted as a 'stash house' for the drugs that were being sold and the cash taken," Mr Bowker told Minshull Street Crown Court.

Another property, owned by the Hussain brothers' sister, was also used as a stash house. Drug paraphernalia was found, as well as Azam and Asam Hussain's fingerprints. "The prosecution estimate that class A drugs weighing in excess of 5kg, with a street value of £514,350, were distributed in the course of the conspiracy," Mr Bowker added.

Sentencing them to a total of 53 years, Judge Jason MacAdam said: "This conspiracy was well organised and a considerable amount of drugs were supplied. Even those of a lesser role, they played an essential role furthering the conspiracy.

Nasir Ali
Nasir Ali -Credit:Greater Manchester Police

"It operated day and night and was brought to an end by the police operation. But for that operation, it was planned to continue as long as it was profitable. It was well organised and provided a prolific quantity of drugs."

Detective Constable Prince, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “Operation Tagula was an investigation into the ACE drugs line where members of an organised crime group, supplied class A drugs around the Bury area of Greater Manchester.

“The sentences handed down today puts members of this crime group behind bars and sends a clear message to those who would blight the community of Bury with criminal activity, that it will not be tolerated, and we are determined to continue to bring criminals to justice and tackle the harm that organised crime causes our communities.

“Programme Challenger is Greater Manchester’s response to tackling serious and organised crime. It tackles all manner of serious crime: county lines, exploitation of young children and vulnerable adults, modern slavery, immigration and economic crime and the use of firearms.

“Our Challenger teams across Greater Manchester are committed to tackling county lines and we will act upon any concerns or information the community give to us to tackle serious and organised crime for good.

“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

Sentences in full

  • Hassan Hussain, of South Bank Road, Bury, was jailed for 17 years

  • Asam Hussain, of South Bank Road, Bury, was jailed for 10 years

  • Nasir Ali, of Whitburn Drive, Bury, was jailed for six years and nine months

  • Shahir Ali, of March Drive, Bury, was jailed for six years

  • Ali Akbar Azam, of Parkhills Road, Bury, was jailed for nine years

  • Mohammed Shah Ahmed, of Braemar Drive, Bury, was jailed for five years and four months

  • Waqas Ullah, of Bury Road, Radcliffe, was jailed for four years and six months