Drugs baron ran business behind bars while partner in crime lived luxury lifestyle - seven people have been jailed

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A convicted drugs baron ran an illicit business behind bars - while his partner in crime lived a luxury lifestyle. David Mulligan, 32, was serving 17 years at Her Majesty’s Pleasure when messages were uncovered between him and Remi Merriman, 35.

Over the course of a number of weeks, Merriman offered ‘wholesale’ amounts of cocaine and heroin to Mulligan, who was running his own separate drugs line from his prison cell using illegal mobile phones.

Following a GMP investigation - Operation Headland - into the supply of class A drugs in Tameside and across Greater Manchester, detectives arrested nine people.

Officers searched a number of homes. Those searches uncovered drugs, cash and - at Merriman’s property - designer clothing, Rolex watches and high calibre bikes. READ MORE: Man 'brazenly' drives away from court moments after being banned from road Minshull Street Crown Court previously heard officers analysed Merriman’s iPhone 11, and uncovered a number of incriminating WhatsApp messages.