Drug dealer had 800 parrots and a BULL in 'The Pen'

TO OUTSIDE eyes, it was a ramshackle plot of land on the outskirts of Rochdale.

- AMY WALKER

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. Large quantities 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.

Zak Dearden, 36, was arrested before being charged with multiple offences following the haul. He has now been 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.