Wythenshawe organised crime group jailed for 19 years after unearthing £1.1 million drug operation
Manchester Crown Court heard how each defendant played a specific role in flooding the streets of Manchester with cocaine, heroin and amphetamines
Three members of a Wythenshawe-based Organised Crime Group responsible for large-scale drug supply have been sentenced to 19 years behind bars.
The defendants were involved in supplying significant quantities of Class A and Class B drugs, with an estimated street value of over £1.1 million.
On Friday 19 September 2025 at Manchester Crown Court, Alan Entwistle (08/06/1977) of Kennett Road was sentenced to 10 years and six months alongside Stephen Findley (03/12/1960) of Carloon Road, who was also handed a four year and four-month sentence, both for conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs.
William Riley (04/05/1985) of Moat Road will serve five years behind bars for conspiracy to supply Class A.
The court heard how each defendant played a specific role in the sophisticated criminal enterprise that was flooding the streets of Manchester with cocaine, heroin and amphetamines.
On Friday 5 July 2024, Greater Manchester Police executed a warrant at Finley’s address, during the search officers discovered approximately 3kg of compressed white powder inside a black JD string bag.
Around 1kg of compressed brown and white powder inside a black rucksack was also found at the address, with drug paraphernalia also being seized from the kitchen. The substances were later tested and came back positive for amphetamine, cocaine and heroin.
Officers from the Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit were tasked with locating Alan Entwistle's white Citroen van. On 23 July 2024 in Northenden, they then followed the van into a dead end by garages off Church Lane, where they found Entwistle with three other males including William Riley. All four men were described as acting extremely suspiciously, sweating and appearing nervous.
A bunch of keys were seized from Entwistle which included keys to his home address and the van. One of the keys opened a locked garage nearby. While searching the garage, officers found a toolbox containing three large bags of powder, along with a grey Adidas bag containing eight clear plastic bags with approximately 1kg each of hard brown powder.
The search also revealed digital scales, a roll of empty plastic sandwich bags consistent with those used for the powder, and over 11 kilograms of drug adulterants including caffeine, paracetamol and benzyl methyl ketone.
The court also heard that Entwistle managed safe houses, prepared drugs for sale and distributed it to other drug dealers. Stephen Findley operated as the group's warehouseman with his property used as a safe house, while William Riley worked as a street dealer for the organisation.
A drugs expert in the case, provided evidence that if the recovered drugs and adulterants had been mixed and broken down into 0.1g deals and sold to end users, the heroin alone would have been worth £1,108,400, yielding a potential profit of over £1 million.
Detective Sergeant Richard McCorry from the Serious Organised Crime Group said: "This was a sophisticated criminal operation that was flooding our communities with Class A and Class B drugs om a large scale.
“The sentences that were handed down reflect the serious nature of these offences and send a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue those involved in drug supply. The investigation demonstrates the excellent work of our officers, from the initial search warrant through to the tactical vehicle intercept operation that led to the discovery of such significant quantities of drugs and equipment.
“We remain committed to dismantling organised crime groups that bring misery to our communities through drug dealing. Anyone with information about drug dealing in their area is encouraged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”