‘Tenderpasta’ Nabbed with £1.6 Million of Pure Cocaine in Middleton Sting
Ibraheem Abdullah, 38, aka ‘Tenderpasta’, was caught red-handed by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers on April 17, 2020. A massive haul of 20 kilos of high-purity cocaine was seized at a joiner’s yard in Middleton, hidden inside boxes of mobile phone accessories.
Desperate Escape Ends in Arrest
Abdullah made a break for it the moment NCA and Greater Manchester Police stormed Wade Street yard. He even tried to destroy crucial evidence—hurling one phone against a wall and chucking another into nearby Wince Brook during a foot chase. But it was no use. Police caught up with him minutes later.
Back at his Mariman Drive home in Crumpsall, cops found electronic scales and tiny plastic bags, classic drug-dealing paraphernalia.
EncroChat Phone Busted, Key to Crackdown
The investigation revealed Abdullah’s EncroChat phone was vital. The device smashed against the wall was the same phone he used to organise the drug shipment under his ‘Tenderpasta’ handle. The cocaine was shipped from the Netherlands, boasting a pure 70-73% grade and a street value of £1.6 million when cut.
On April 7, 2020, messages between ‘Tenderpasta’ and contact ‘Maxbro’ pinpointed the Middleton joiner’s yard as the perfect drop-off spot. Cell mast data confirmed Abdullah’s phones were in the area during the planning.
Further chats with ‘Flyinghourse’ detailed efforts to line up a buyer, agreeing on £37,500 per kilo for the cocaine.
Long Stretch for NCA’s Drug Dealer
Abdullah pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import Class A drugs in November 2023. Manchester City Crown Court sentenced him to 12 years behind bars on March 14, 2024.
NCA Operations Manager Helen Murphy said: “Ibraheem Abdullah tried to use technology to dodge the law, but he now faces a lengthy prison term.
This investigation shows the NCA’s commitment to stopping criminals exploiting EncroChat. Abdullah tried to profit from cocaine that fuels violence and shatters communities.
Disrupting organised crime networks is key to keeping Class A drugs off UK streets.”
