£3.25m Drugs Haul Found Hidden in Rotten Meat Warehouse
Police made a grim discovery on August 26, 2020, during a raid on a warehouse unit in Commercial Street, Oswaldtwistle. Officers were tipped off by suspicious voices and a horrific “death smell” wafting from inside the premises. What they found was a massive stash of drugs stashed alongside rotting meat.
Stinking Warehouse Housed £3.25 Million Cannabis Stash
The unit, marked with an “A2Z Meats Ltd” sign, concealed 200 kilograms of cannabis skunk and another 200 kilograms of cannabis resin. The street value of this potent haul was estimated at a staggering £3.25 million. The drugs, hidden inside boxes and stored among spoiling meat, revealed a slick criminal operation behind the facade of a meat supplier.
Defendants Flee as Police Close In
- A Vauxhall Vivaro van registered to Badrul Alam was found outside the unit.
- Another vehicle linked to co-defendant Yamin Patel was found nearby.
- Both men fled the scene when officers arrived.
Forensics tied three men to the plot: DNA on drinks bottles linked to Alam and Patel, and DNA inside pink Marigold gloves used to handle the cannabis matched Ismail Ahmed. Mobile phone data and CCTV footage showed the extent of the conspiracy, including repeated drug deliveries from a Spanish haulage company.
CCTV Reveals Criminal Network in Action
Early morning footage on the day of the bust captured a Spanish HGV unloading crates at the warehouse. Co-defendant Gary McCann was seen moving bins—likely to remove the cannabis hidden inside meat boxes, which were later discarded. Documents revealed eight similar shipments arrived between March and August 2020, paralleling the rental period of the unit.
Following extensive inquiries, warrants were executed at addresses in Burnley, Blackburn, and Nelson. The four men—Badrul Alam (35), Ismail Ahmed (36), Yamin Patel (34), and Gary McCann (59)—were charged with conspiracy to supply cannabis resin and herbal cannabis.
Sentences Handed Down at Preston Crown Court
All four pleaded guilty on November 24 and were remanded in custody. On sentencing day, Judge Guy Mathieson ordered:
- Badrul Alam – 3 years 6 months
- Ismail Ahmed – 3 years 9 months
- Yamin Patel – 4 years
- Gary McCann – sentencing delayed until next year
A fifth man charged alongside them was acquitted.
DCI Tim Brown said: “This was a sophisticated operation motivated purely by greed. Cannabis sales might not be Class A, but they fuel violence, exploitation and serious organised crime. We’re glad this gang has been dismantled and its members jailed.”
“Lancashire Police will not tolerate drug crime and will use all powers to target offenders.”
