Father and Son Jailed for Over 12 Years in Major Drug Bust
A father and son duo from Astley have been locked up for a combined 12 years and 9 months after a major drugs conspiracy investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s Salford Challenger Team.
Antony Peers Snr and Jnr Caught in Drug Web
Antony Peers Sr and his son, also named Antony Peers, were sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on 28 March 2024. The elder Peers received 4 years and 6 months, while his son got 8 years and 3 months for roles in a cocaine and cannabis drug ring in Astley and Tyldesley.
Both men were tied to a network using encrypted mobile phones to organise illicit activity under the national Operation Venetic, which dismantled the criminal chat system Encrochat in 2020. The younger Peers used the handle ‘Tubbyfern’ to arrange large-scale drug deals and operate cannabis farms.
Luxury Lifestyle Uncovered in Police Raid
Antony Sr played a key role, running a hydraulic press in his garage to reprocess cocaine blocks and cultivating cannabis. Police seized drugs, designer clothes, a Range Rover Evoque, mountain bikes, a Rolex watch, jewellery, a 30-tonne hydraulic press, and cannabis-growing gear from their properties.
Criminal Network Links and Wider Crackdown
The Peers duo were associates of Ricky Lee and the Gresty brothers, who were jailed in November 2023 for a total of 28 years over the same conspiracy. The gang operated across North Lane and nearby areas, owning multiple houses used in their illicit trade.
Detective Constable Steven Walker, GMP Challenger Team: “We believe these men have run this criminal enterprise for years. Their sentences reflect the brutal impact illegal drugs have on our communities. We are committed to smashing the drugs trade and urge anyone with information to come forward.”
A Proceeds of Crime Hearing is scheduled for later this year as the police continue their fight against organised crime in Greater Manchester.
