To outside eyes, it was a ramshackle plot of land on the outskirts of Rochdale. And when police began to search what was known as ‘The Pen’ in summer 2023, they were completely unaware of what was lurking under its surface
Millions of pounds worth of drugs, a sawn–off shotgun, numerous rounds of ammunition, a revolver, as well as 800 parrots, minks, ferrets, Koi carp and a bull were discovered following a month-long search.
Over 50 officers were tasked with combing the complex on Dyehouse Lane.
A total of five firearms with ammunition and drugs including 10kg of amphetamines with a street value of £100,000, 99g of cannabis oil with a street value of £12,884, £57,000 worth of cannabis and £4,685 worth of cocaine were recovered from the property site.
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Zak Dearden, 36, was arrested before being charged with multiple offences following the haul. Today, October 11, he was jailed for 10 years.
Alex Beevers, prosecuting, said that on July 27 last year, officers attended the family home in Rochdale which consisted of containers and outbuildings. Over the next four weeks drugs, guns and chemicals were found.
“Officers found two plastic bags containing cannabis and six bricks of amphetamine in a bag for life. The total weight of the amphetamine was just under six kilos,” he said.
“The street value was £60,000. It was clear there was the production of amphetamine in a laboratory.”
Of the search, he said an expert observed that in 20 years of work, he had never seen such a ‘vastly complicated machine’. This included the size of the lab, the scale and the scrap materials that were left.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard there were also live animals that were recovered. Dearden had run a pet shop with his dad and as a result, officers found animals including mink, a bull, ferrets, parrots, dogs, peacocks and Koi carp.
They were left in the care of his dad following his arrest, Greater Manchester Police have since confirmed.
Officers also found four kilos of amphetamine in the boot of an Audi which was parked at the property, a chemical lab used to make the drugs, cannabis oil, a heat sealing machine and an amount of cocaine.
“Three days after the initial search, in the undergrowth behind the property, an officer found a self-loading Browning shotgun with the barrel sawn-off,” Mr Beevers continued.
They went on to find cartridges that would have been viable to use in the shotgun as well as a handgun, a revolver and further ammunition. A few days later they found another shotgun hidden in the wall of the Koi pond.
“A day later police officers searched the living quarters of the property and found drug and gun paraphernalia including silencers, homemade bullets, scopes and a bow and arrow set. There were also three air weapons, a gun bag, and further rifles,” the prosecutor added.
In his police interview he gave no comment, but initially suggested through a prepared statement that he was being threatened by some Albanian men to stash the drugs, but there was no evidence to support this, the court heard.
Dearden was said to have four convictions for eight offences including for possession of a firearm, section 20 wounding and intimidation of a witness.
Mitigating, Robert Smith said there was no evidence his client lived a ‘lavish lifestyle’.
“He operated the pet shop, it was a business he was engaged in,” he said. Mr Smith added that the Pen did not belong to him, and he was allowed to live there by a friend.
Dearden, of Dyehouse Lane, Rochdale, was jailed for 10 years. He previously pleaded guilty to; 13 counts including being concerned in the production of amphetamines; possession with intent to supply amphetamines; the production of cannabis oil, possession of cocaine with intent to supply; possession of cannabis with intent to supply; possession of a prohibited smooth-bore gun; converting an imitation firearm into a firearm; three counts of possessing firearm when prohibited and three counts of possessing ammunition when prohibited.
A Proceeds of Crime Act Hearing was set for February 10 next year. Detective Sergeant Steven Gilliland, of our Rochdale district, said: “This was a very challenging search and case. It took a month to fully search the site – it was the biggest search I have ever been involved in.
“I would like to thank our officers and partners who helped assist with this investigation – the hazardous chemicals that Dearden was using to produce the drugs had to be disposed of by chemical disposal experts.
“Words do not do justice to the scale of the land as well as the amount of buildings and state of the buildings which impacted on the search. Our investigation managed to uncover vast amounts of dangerous drugs, weapons and various animals living in terrible conditions.
“For example, we found 10 dogs living in what can only be described as their own filth. Concerns were raised and the RSPCA attended. All the dogs were removed from the kennels and found alternative accommodation. I must thank the Dogs Trust at Denton for taking in two of the dogs and Leigh Dogs and Cats Home for taking in three.
“This operation has resulted in us removing threatening materials from getting onto the streets of Greater Manchester and today’s sentence puts a dangerous offender behind bars.”
