A 28-year-old Albanian man has been sentenced to eight years in prison in the UK after being found guilty of leading a criminal group that dealt with the supply and distribution of cocaine.
Muharem Hekali was sentenced by Bolton Crown Court after admitting charges of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of money obtained from criminal activity.
According to authorities, the investigation began in September 2025, when a search of a flat in Atherton uncovered a facility used for the preparation and packaging of cocaine. Hundreds of doses of the drug, electronic scales, over £9,000 in cash and lists of distributors were seized.
Analysis of cell phones revealed that Hekali led the criminal group, coordinating drug distributors and supplies.
Following his arrest in February 2026, police found over 850 grams of cocaine hidden in his apartment, as well as another £5,000. According to police, during the period of his criminal activity, Hekali had produced over 53,000 doses of cocaine, with an estimated street value of more than £1.67 million.
In the same operation, his two associates, Nikolaos Giousoufidis and Christos Kompos, were also convicted, and in April they each received three and a half years in prison for involvement in the same cocaine trafficking network.