Brothers caged after guns, drugs and cash were found at safe house

Three brothers have been jailed after an assault rifle was found at a Manchester safe house.

In September 2017, officers from Challenger Manchester and UK Visas and Immigration executed a warrant at a flat on Victoria Avenue in Blackley.

The flat – which was being used as a safe house – had a stash of Class A drugs, with an approximate street value of £38,000, hidden in a divan bed and a holdall full of guns and ammunition.

When the seven guns were taken for forensic examination, it was found they were used in a number of shootings in Greater Manchester, one of which was in December 2015 in Levenshulme.

The gun packed so much power that the bullet penetrated the wall of a house and travelled straight through to the other side.

Thankfully nobody was injured during the incident, which is believed to have targeted the wrong address.

Yesterday (Thursday), the following have been sentenced at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square:

Safeer Ali, aged 36, of Holst Avenue, Cheetham Hill, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm and ammunition. He was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison.

His brothers Qabeer Ali (32) and Khateer Ali (35), both also of Holst Avenue, pleaded guilty to the supply of Class A drugs.  

Qabeer was sentenced to six years and Khateer to four-and-a-half years in prison.

Michael Davis (52), of no fixed address but previously lived in Rochdale, is wanted in connection with the conspiracy to possess firearms/ammunition and the supply of Class A drugs but is believed to have fled overseas after his arrest.

Detective Constable Robert Ashurst of GMP’s Challenger Manchester Team, said: “This was an extremely complex investigation with many intricate layers that took officers countless hours to examine.

“Thankfully, we’ve been able to bring a stop to the Ali brothers who posed a significant risk to the North Manchester community, in particular Cheetham Hill.

"Not only are they now behind bars but we have also taken seven guns off the street, which we believe were being controlled by other organised crime groups.

“Without the support from our dedicated partners and the local community, we may not have been able to see them all jailed today so my thanks goes to them.

"Their support is vital to prevent and disrupt organised crime.”  

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