Bury: Man living in Lakeland Crescent was part of £1million drugs gang

Between March and July 2023, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) looked to tackle organised crime around the city-region led by Albanian nationals.

Police became aware of an Albanian man who was understood to be controlling others as part of the large-scale production of cannabis across Greater Manchester, with one of the men living in Bury. 

This led to GMP undertaking an investigation between May and November last year.

Police looked to identify and take action against the higher level organised crime group (OCG) members who were controlling the activity rather than the 'gardeners' who tend to the cannabis farms.

More than £1m worth of drugs was seized (Image: GMP)

Three properties were raided in Chadderton, followed by one in Wigan, which led to the arrests of four Albanian men.

The investigation saw more than £1m worth of drugs seized along with £90,000 in cash.

Raids were carried out in Oldham and Wigan (Image: GMP)

Earlier this year, Ilrijan Hodaj, Armando Xhemalaj and Henri Shperdhea all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis.

Meanwhile, Riza Hodaj denied the charge of conspiracy to produce cannabis and money laundering, which led to him facing a trial at Bolton Crown Court in September.

After the trial, the 39-year-old was found guilty on all counts.

Riza Hodaj (Image: GMP)

On Tuesday September 24, all four defendants were sentenced at Bolton Crown Court.

Riza Hodaj, of Beech Mount, Harpurhey, was jailed for seven years.

Iriljan Hodaj, 32 of Lakeland Crescent, Bury, received four years in prison.

Iriljan Hodaj (Image: GMP)

Meanwhile, both Henri Shperdhea, 35, of Denton Lane, Chadderton, and Armando Xhemalaj, 32, of Barracks Road, Wigan, were both sentenced to two years and three months in prison.

Henri Shperdhea (Image: GMP)

All four men will serve half their sentences before they are deported.

Armando Xhemalaj (Image: GMP)

Detective Inspector Paul Crompton, of GMP's Serious and Organised Crime Group Syndicate, said: “This was an excellent investigation into an OCG, which resulted in the recovery of over £1million pounds worth of drugs as well as the seizure of a large amount of criminal cash.

“Not only that the organisers of this criminal enterprise were successfully identified and prosecuted, rather than just the ‘gardeners’ who are typically caught within cannabis farms.

“What usually comes from this kind of criminality is people being exploited for cultivating drugs. This operation flipped the script slightly by going after those at the top of criminal enterprise.

“It is hoped that these convictions serve as a deterrent to this type of activity which blights local communities who have organised criminal gangs operating within their communities.”