Thousands of drugs parcels sent out via Royal Mail from gang's Bury warehouse

Three men behind a "highly sophisticated" mail-order drugs empire that pumped millions of pounds worth of illegal substances across the UK have been jailed after police smashed their operation. Iain Potter, Jack Wright and Ross Fathi ran the "industrial-scale" conspiracy from a distribution hub in Edenfield, Bury, where drugs were packaged up and dispatched through the Royal Mail network.

When officers swooped on the warehouse, they uncovered a professional set-up complete with packaging stations, vacuum sealing machines, label printers and hundreds of Royal Mail bags waiting to be sent out. Police also seized a huge haul of illegal drugs, including cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, cannabis resin, THC edibles and other substances. An investigation found the gang had used fake return addresses on every package in a bid to avoid detection if parcels were intercepted. Royal Mail records showed that between February and April 2025 the group sent out 1,724 parcels, weighing between 0.1kg and 10kg each.

Detectives believe the operation was responsible for distributing at least 19kg of cocaine, with the total value of the drugs estimated at £2.2million. Encrypted mobile phones and £13,000 in cash were also recovered.

Potter and Wright were arrested in Ramsbottom in April 2025 after officers stopped them with a suitcase containing 5kg of skunk cannabis.

Further searches of their homes uncovered additional drugs and packaging materials, including MDMA, ketamine, LSD and cocaine.

Fathi, who acted as the gang's courier and packer and used the alias "A Sam Poland A", was arrested at the Edenfield warehouse and was later connected to the conspiracy through encrypted messaging applications.

Potter, 45, of Sefton Drive, Liverpool, and Wright, 30, of Westgate Lane, Wakefield, were each sentenced to 11 years and four months in prison after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs.

Fathi, 46, of Wingfield Drive, Wilmslow, was jailed for six years for the same offences.

Det Con Liam Smith, from GMP's Serious Crime Division, said: "This was an organised criminal enterprise on an industrial scale, they would act as a legitimate outfit, flooding drugs via parcels throughout the country.

Potter, Wright and Fathi would use encrypted devices, fake addresses, and sophisticated packaging methods to try and evade detection.

"The quantity of drugs involved, and the planning shows they weren’t small time dealers, they ran a criminal outfit who were looking to maximise profits on a daily basis.

"[This week's] sentencing sends a clear message: if you choose to engage in drug supply, we will find you, dismantle your network, and bring you to justice."