Oldham Drug Dealer Busted by Encrypted Phone Hack
Nabeel Rasheed from Southbank Road in Bury has been slammed with a 10-year jail sentence for running a million-pound Class A drug ring in Oldham. Rasheed pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin, alongside money laundering charges.
Operation Venetic Cracks Encrypted Crime Network
The key to Rasheed’s downfall? Encrypted mobile phones. These gadgets once made it impossible for cops to get evidence. But thanks to Operation Venetic — the UK’s biggest organised crime crackdown led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) — police legally hacked into the Encrochat system used by gangsters to secretly communicate.
This tech breakthrough exposed Rasheed’s messages, including his alias ‘LIMITEDTURTLE’, where he coordinated drug deals with other crime group members.
Huge Haul Recovered in High-Stakes Surveillance
Between April and June 2020, Rasheed helped move at least 15 kilos of cocaine and 9.5 kilos of heroin, breaking batches into smaller loads sold across Bradford, Liverpool, and beyond.
On 16 July 2021, officers spotted Rasheed hauling two bin liners and a bag into his home. In his bedroom, they seized over 14 kilos of cocaine and packaging that indicated more than 100 kilos had been broken down. The wholesale value of the seized cocaine alone was a staggering £529,000. The street value? Up to £3.6 million.
Detective Hails Operation as Major Victory
“This gang thought these encrypted devices would keep them safe,” said Detective Constable Marc Walby of GMP Serious and Organised Crime Group. “Instead, they handed us a treasure trove of evidence. We’ve taken these criminals off our streets and shown our commitment to wiping out drugs in our communities.”
“Our detailed work with partner agencies pieced together Rasheed’s drug empire and secured his conviction. The sheer scale of drugs seized is massive. Removing Rasheed and his associates will make a real difference across Oldham and the Northwest.”
Earlier this year, gang ringleader Faizal Hussain and associate Rezwan Javed were sentenced to a combined 24 years for similar drug and money laundering offences connected to this network.
