A dealer who had drugs valued at more than £100,000 hidden in a lock-up in Oldham has been jailed for five years.

The stash of drugs as well as £73,000 in cash were found after HMRC investigators alerted police.

AN HMRC officer was carrying out a search of a storage unit in Failsworth in December 2022 and forced his way into the container rented by Andrew Farren.

Inside was a quantity of cocaine and a key to a safe, which contained more cocaine, a burner phone and a dealer book.

Farren admitted the drugs belonged to him.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s Challenger team were called and located the cash in a safety deposit box also in Farren’s name.

In total, officers found 899g of cannabis valued at £8,990, 624g of crack cocaine valued at £62,420 and 456g of cocaine valued at £36,512.

Farren (05/12/1967), of Turnberry Walk, Crumpsall, Manchester, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and money laundering at Minshull Street Crown Court in March.

He was sentenced at the same court today (23 May 2023).

Detective Constable Jake Orr, of GMP's Operation Challenger Team based at Ashton-under-Lyne Police Station, 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 today's 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.

"We will always listen to our communities' concerns and any information or issues that are fed to us can sometimes hugely assist our on-going investigations.”