In a case that reads like a crime drama, two brothers operating a sophisticated drug network from neighbouring luxury homes have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a £1.5 million cannabis enterprise.
The Million-Pound Operation Next Door
Carl and Lee O'Kane, aged 38 and 36 respectively, maintained an elaborate facade of respectable living while running a professional drug production and distribution network from their side-by-side mansions in Manchester. The brothers' criminal enterprise came crashing down when law enforcement uncovered the truth behind their seemingly ordinary suburban existence.
Sophisticated Setup Uncovered
Police investigations revealed a remarkably professional operation spanning multiple properties. The brothers controlled at least six different locations converted into cannabis factories, with one property alone containing 411 mature plants valued at approximately £350,000.
The setup included:
- Advanced ventilation systems to control humidity and odour
- Illegal electricity bypasses to power extensive lighting
- Multiple harvesting rooms for continuous production
- Sophisticated irrigation and feeding systems
From Respectable to Criminal
What made this case particularly striking was the brothers' apparent normality. Living in expensive adjacent properties worth hundreds of thousands of pounds each, they maintained the appearance of successful businessmen while secretly operating their drug empire.
Detective Constable Chris Burgess of Greater Manchester Police highlighted the paradox: "These men were living a double life. To their neighbours, they appeared as successful entrepreneurs. In reality, their wealth was built entirely on illegal drug production and distribution."
The Downfall
The brothers' criminal enterprise began unravelling when police received intelligence about their activities. Surveillance operations and coordinated raids exposed the scale of their operation, with evidence pointing to a well-established network supplying cannabis across the region.
Carl O'Kane received a sentence of three years and four months, while his younger brother Lee was handed two years and eight months imprisonment. The sentencing marks the conclusion of a significant investigation into organised drug crime in the Manchester area.
Warning to Would-Be Criminals
Police have issued a strong message following the successful prosecution. DC Burgess emphasised: "This case demonstrates that no matter how sophisticated the operation or how legitimate criminals may appear, we have the resources and determination to uncover the truth and bring offenders to justice."
The case serves as a stark reminder that drug-related criminal activity remains a priority for law enforcement, with significant consequences for those involved in large-scale drug production and distribution networks.
