Rochdale Drug Gang Member Jailed for More Than 10 Years

A Rochdale man has been jailed for ten-and-a-half years for his significant role in an organised crime group supplying heroin and cocaine.

A man who played a significant role in an organised crime group supplying Class A drugs across Rochdale has been sentenced to ten years and six months in prison.

Haider Ali, 34, of Pike Street, Rochdale, was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday 9 November following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police into an organised drug supply network known as the Adam line.

Detectives discovered that Ali was not only involved in selling drugs on the streets but was also managing other dealers and directing their activities.

Police say the criminal network had caused significant harm to communities across Rochdale and beyond.

Suspicious drug deal sparked investigation

The investigation began after police received information about a suspected drug deal involving a car parked on Baron Street in Rochdale town centre shortly before midnight on 4 January 2025.

Officers followed the vehicle until it stopped at a nearby petrol station, where they carried out a reinforced stop to prevent it from leaving.

Ali, who was travelling as a passenger, got out of the vehicle and attempted to walk away quickly before being detained.

A search revealed that he was carrying more than £1,000 in cash and two mobile phones, which were seized by officers.

He was arrested on suspicion of involvement in supplying Class A drugs.

Heroin and cocaine discovered

Further searches while Ali was in police custody uncovered two bundles containing multiple wraps of brown and white substances.

Testing later confirmed the substances were heroin and cocaine.

Investigators also examined a prepaid mobile phone recovered from Ali and established that it was being used as the dedicated contact number for the Adam drug supply network.

This discovery became an important part of the investigation into the organised crime group's activities.

From street dealer to managing criminal operations

Greater Manchester Police established that Ali's involvement in drug dealing had developed over several years.

Evidence suggested he had progressed from street-level dealing in 2014 to holding a significant position within the Adam organised crime group during 2024 and 2025.

His responsibilities included managing street dealers, controlling the group's dedicated telephone line and directing individuals to locations where drug transactions would take place.

Detectives said this demonstrated that Ali was operating at a higher level within the criminal organisation rather than simply selling drugs himself.

On 27 March 2025, officers executed a warrant at his home address and arrested him on suspicion of further drug supply offences.

Sentenced to ten years and six months

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Ali was sentenced to ten years and six months in prison for offences committed between September 2024 and March 2025.

These included:

• Being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

• Being concerned in the supply of heroin.

• Two counts of possession with intent to supply cocaine.

• Two counts of possession with intent to supply heroin.

The sentence followed an investigation by Greater Manchester Police's Rochdale Challenger Unit, which targets serious and organised crime.

Police say gang caused misery across Rochdale

PC Joe Cooke, from GMP's Rochdale Challenger Unit, said the Adam organised crime group had caused considerable harm to local communities.

He said:

"The ‘Adam’ Organised Crime Group have caused misery for many years to the residents and communities of Rochdale and beyond."

He added that Ali's involvement in drug dealing and his management of lower-level dealers had contributed significantly to the group's operations.

PC Cooke stressed that information provided to police would be acted upon, and that officers remained committed to disrupting organised criminal networks.

Officers urge public to report concerns

Greater Manchester Police say organised drug networks often exploit vulnerable people for financial gain, creating wider harm within communities.

PC Cooke welcomed the prison sentence and said it demonstrated that those involved in serious organised crime would face consequences.

He reassured residents that police would continue acting on information about suspected criminal activity.

The force says intelligence from the public remains an important part of its efforts to identify, investigate and dismantle organised crime groups.

Source: Greater Manchester Police, published 9 November 2026.