Drug dealing ring smashed

Date published: 01 March 2010

The ringleaders of a lucrative drug-dealing operation in Tameside have been jailed, thanks to Greater Manchester Police.

Jason Daniels (born 29/12/1982) of Mancunion Road, Haughton Green, Tameside, and Philip Cavanagh (born 21/12/1975) of Worthington Road, Haughton Green, Tameside, were at the heart of a conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

Daniels was today, Friday 26 February 2010, sentenced to six years and five months imprisonment for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

He was also sentenced to a further two months for absconding from custody.

Cavanagh was sentenced on Monday 22 February 2010 at Minshull Street Crown Court.

He was sentenced to five years imprisonment for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Daniels was the ringleader of the operation, and used his home as a base for his operations, distributing the drugs to his runners.

He was helped by Cavanagh who collected and dropped off the drugs and cash.

During the course of the police operation to smash the network, officers found swathes of telephone communications between Daniels, Cavanagh and their associates, along with text messages, that clearly showed they were dealing drugs.

Officers also recovered drugs and cash from the homes of the gang, none of which had legitimate employment.

Detective Inspector Mark Wareing said: "It is always difficult to put a value on a drug-dealing operation of this size, but it is clear from the cash we recovered that Daniels and his cohorts were making large sums of money from their illegal enterprise.

⿝As none had jobs, dealing drugs was their only source of income so to have dismantled this operation and stopped them from lining their own pockets by feeding people⿿s addictions is a fantastic result for the police and for the Tameside community.

"This is the result of a lot of hard work by officers and they should be applauded for their efforts.

"Today's result shows the scale and severity of the criminal activity we have disrupted. I hope this shows the community that police in Tameside will respond to intelligence we receive about drug dealing and take decisive action, as well as sending a strong message to dealers that we are watching you, and we will be coming for you."