Two men and a woman from Salford have been jailed for their role in a drug distribution network, led by a Dubai-based ringleader who is still at large.
Davin Austin, 40, of St Bartholomew’s Drive, Michael Creag, 60, Alexandra Grove in Irlam and Carrie Anderson, 39, of Delamere Avenue in Swinton were sentenced for their involvement in the large-scale drugs operation, along with two other criminals.
The network involved the multi-kilo supply of Class A and B drugs and over £50,000 was seized during the arrests. were involved in the sophisticated drug operation.
Austin controlled safehouses and coordinated drug couriers and was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis. He has been jailed for 13 years and six months.
Meanwhile, Creag acted as a courier and was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis. He has been jailed for nine years.
Anderson, a local distributor and cash collector, was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis and was sentenced to four years and four months’ imprisonment.
Another suspect referred to as ‘Hamas’ or ‘Sinwar’ is an unidentified Dubai-based head of the group who directed the movement and distribution of drugs around the UK.
The three Salford criminals were uncovered by officers from Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, who spent five months targeting the group in a covert operation.
A covert investigation took place from February to June 2025, following earlier operations that disrupted the same organised crime group.
Despite arrests in these earlier operations, the group continued its activities by recruiting new members and using the same vehicles, routes and customers, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.
The investigation started on 18 February with surveillance focused on Michael Creag, who was seen to travel regularly across the UK, including Manchester, Bolton, Plymouth, Chester and Coventry, where he was involved in exchanges with what transpired to be Class A and B drug supply.
Creag regularly did this with his partner Mala Patel, who was also jailed for seven years and four months after being charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis.
The pair would be rewarded with vehicles purchased by the group and large sums of cash for each journey.
The investigation team quickly identified that David Austin was the controller of the drugs safehouse, supplier of the cocaine and conducted some of the local Greater Manchester-based drug courier journeys.
In March, Patel threatened to leave the group after an argument with Creag and returned her courier vehicle, cash counting machine, and drug stock.
Days later, Patel reconnected with Creag, who was in Albania at the time, and told him that Austin is using his courier vehicle until he returns from Albania and she has been given a new vehicle to continue her role in the group.
Patel then tried to reconnect with Creag and get back in his good graces by offering to conduct criminal courier journeys with him as friends, referring to themselves as ‘Bonnie and Clyde’.
Creag and Patel visited Austin at his safehouse on St Bartholomew’s Drive in Salford. Messages from a seized phone showed Patel discussing plans with Creag later that day, in which he was sent on a cash collection journey.
At the start of April, Creag was on a criminal courier journey and was stopped by police on Oldfield Road in Salford with around 11.5 kilos of cannabis in the boot of his car and was arrested and four mobile phones were seized.
After being alerted to Creag’s arrest, Austin and Patel began to empty large bags of suspected drugs from his safehouse into his van before driving off.
In May, more messages recovered from Austin’s phone showed him being asked to go to Carrie Anderson’s address on Delamere Avenue in Salford.
Messages suggested he had met her and collected the cash before sending a picture of the cash in a blue plastic bag.
The same day, ‘Sinwar’ directed a large restock of cocaine to Austin, who collects 15 kilos of cocaine and is instructed by ‘Sinwar’ to take a photo of them. The cocaine is then prepped and sent to customers the following day through several couriers.
In June, ‘Sinwar’ asked Austin to parcel up some cash from collections to pass on to a courier, which amounted to £50,000.
Later that month, our surveillance officers observed ‘Sinwar’ arranging for Austin to pass three kilos of cocaine to Creag, who then directed a delivery to a customer in the Chester area. The next day, Creag is supplied with two kilos of cocaine by Austin whilst under surveillance by the police.
Creag and Patel were intercepted by police in Coventry when on the way to supply a customer and were arrested whilst in possession of the drugs in the front passenger footwell.
A short time later, officers arrested Austin in his vehicle in Eccles where a large amount of uncounted cash and a small set of scales were seized.
Officers searched Austin’s VW Golf where they also recovered two kilos of cocaine.
The group were evidenced to have supplied during the conspiracy period a total of 46 kilos of cocaine, 68 pounds of cannabis and 4.5 kilos of heroin.
Detective Sergeant Richard McCorry from our Serious Organised Crime Division said: “Today’s results are a culmination of tireless work from our team to dismantle a dangerous network piece by piece.
“This group operated on a highly sophisticated level using encrypted phones, code names, and a network of couriers and safe houses to move vast quantities of drugs and thousands of pounds.
“This case highlights the importance of collaboration across law enforcement and the value of intelligence-led policing. We are sending a clear message: if you are involved in organised crime, we will find you, we will catch you, and we will bring you to justice.”
