Gang jailed over £40k 'cat food' ecstasy haul

A DRUGS gang has been jailed after trying to import £40,000 worth of ecstasy pills disguised as cat food.

- LYELL TWEED

Further investigations discovered that a former GMP employee had tried to warn the gang they were being investigated.

Police raided a property on Dale View in Denton on November 21, 2019, following the discovery of the package.

Border Force intercepted a parcel for 'S Dowling' from the Netherlands in October for 8 Dale View.

The package, disguised as cat food, was found to contain MDMA tablets with a street value of more than £40,000, Minshull Crown Court heard in a two-day hearing.

Prosecuting, Adrian Farrow, said that the Dale View property was rented by Pearce Dowling, 26, who used his middle name beginning with 'S' to try and hide his identity, with the rent being paid for by another defendant, Charlie Jacob, 25.

After this package for Dowling was intercepted by border force, the Dale View property was raided, with Dowling and co-defendant Callum Hindle, 26, at the property at the time. Twentyeight cannabis plants were found in the property, with electricity diverted from the meter to conceal it.

Another defendant, Abby Latham, 22, was arrested with Jacob on December 23, 2019, on suspicion of assisting an offender.