A drug trafficking operation between Manchester and Newcastle has landed two men behind bars for more than 27 years, after police uncovered a £21,000 cash handover linked to heroin and cocaine deals.
Two men have been sentenced to over 27 years in prison for their roles in a money laundering operation that helped facilitate the supply of Class A drugs across northern England.
Hassan Shah, aged 41, of Meadowcroft Lane in Rochdale, was handed a 15 year and three-month sentence, while Craig Glendenning, 38, of Briardene Way in Backworth, Newcastle, received a 12-year sentence at Manchester Crown Court on Monday 30 June 2025.
The court heard how Shah and Glendenning coordinated the concealment and transfer of £21,420 in criminal proceeds. The cash was linked to wholesale drug deals involving seven kilos of heroin and one kilo of cocaine supplied by Shah to Glendenning.
The scheme was uncovered on 13 October 2022, when Shah was spotted travelling from Manchester to Newcastle. Officers monitored his meeting with Glendenning and stopped Shah’s vehicle on his return. A search revealed the concealed cash.
Telecoms data and surveillance evidence established the duo’s ongoing coordination. Despite both men denying any wrongdoing during police interviews, they were found guilty by a jury.
Glendenning claimed he had arranged a test drive for a high-value vehicle as a favour to a friend using Snapchat. However, officers had observed Shah throughout his time in Newcastle and no such activity was witnessed. When confronted, Glendenning offered no further comment.
Detective Constable Marc Walby from Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Crime Division praised the operation, saying: “This case highlights the meticulous efforts of our surveillance and tactical teams in disrupting criminal activities. We will continue to come after criminals and take their ill-gotten gains.”
The seized money will be reinvested into the community under the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS), supporting local projects aimed at reducing crime and improving public safety.**
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