Eight men due in court after large investigation into stolen vehicles worth more than £2.25m

Police launched Operation Norma to investigate the theft of more than 70 vehicles, worth more than £2.25m, since October last year.

It followed the theft of a Mercedes vehicle from Manchester city centre on October 12, 2019 and the discovery of what was believed to be a "chop shop" on Poolstock Lane in Wigan.

Several other suspected chop shops were raided by police and around 45 stolen cars, or parts from stolen vehicles, were uncovered.

Eight men were arrested on Tuesday morning as part of the investigation and they have now been charged.

Zeeshan Ali, 30, of Malvern Street, Oldham, has been charged with conspiring to receive stolen goods and concealing/disguising/converting/transferring/removing criminal property.

Hadir Ali, 26, of Lee Street, Oldham, has been charged with conspiracy to steal, entering into/concerned in acquisition/retention/use or control criminal property and three counts of conspiring to receive stolen goods.

Shawaz Rehman, 25, of Hereford Street, Oldham, has been charged with conspiracy to steal and four counts of conspiring to receive stolen goods.

Imran Taj, 39, of Broomhurst Avenue, Oldham, has been charged with conspiring to receive stolen goods, conceal/disguise/convert/transfer/remove criminal property and possess/control article for use in fraud.

Sajid Jangharia, 36, of Willows Lane, Bolton, and Asif Matadar, 36, of Melbourne Road, Bolton, have both been charged with conspiracy to steal and four counts of conspiring to receive stolen goods.

Andrew Allan, 19, of Abbey Hills Road, Oldham, and Habib Rehman, 46, of Hereford Street, Oldham, have been charged with conspiracy to steal.

They will all appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning.

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