'Tony' and 'Ali' had a sophisticated drugs racket - then it came crashing down

NewsGreater Manchester NewsCourtsFive men have now been jailed18:25, 04 Sep 2026Five men behind a network that flooded Oldham's streets with crack cocaine and heroin have been locked up. Officers ran a major investigation into the 'Tony' and 'Ali' county lines, which supplied drugs across Oldham from September 2024 to March 2026.‌Greater Manchester Police says the group operated a sophisticated drugs network - regularly changing drug line numbers while maintaining the same customer base, operating patterns and supply routes to evade detection. Investigators analysed mobile phones, telecommunications data and digital download to bring the operation down.‌They discovered how senior members of the group directed runners on the streets and coordinated the supply of Class A drugs across Oldham.