A DRUGS boss who used crime to fund a lavish, multi-millionaire lifestyle has been sentenced to 37 years in prison.

Aram Sheibani, 40, of Delamer Road in Bowdon, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday 10 June for a total of 20 offences.

The court heard how Sheibani built up a vast amount of wealth via a conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

He spent the money on property worth £5 million in the UK and Spain, which he bought and sold in an attempt to hide the source of his wealth.

Sheibani pretended to be a legitimate businessman, also forging bank statements, payslips and P60s.

But an investigation by GMP’s Economic Crime Unit found his tax records were incomplete, with no tax returns sent in for a number of years.

Sheibani was arrested in April 2019 after warrants were executed at a number of properties across Manchester and London.

He attempted to destroy evidence when the police arrived at his apartment, but officers forced their way in to make the arrest.

And as Sheibani was led away, he shouted to his girlfriend: “Don’t tell them anything, go no comment.”

Searches of the apartment and Sheibani’s other properties found £1.2 million in cash and another £1.5 million in cryptocurrency.

There were also multiple electronic devices, cash counting machines, a substantial amount of class A and B drugs including cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine, and even original artwork by artists such as Andy Warhol and Banksy.

Ordered by the court to give police the passwords and PINs to the electronic devices, Sheibani refused.

He was sentenced to 34 years for drug offences, fraud and money laundering, plus another three years for his refusal to cooperate.

Sergeant Lucy Pearson of GMP’s Economic Crime Unit said: "Sheibani is a calculated, deceitful and scheming criminal who believes he is above the law.

“His greed shows no limits and he has been funding his materialistic lifestyle of luxury with fraud and criminality, masquerading as a legitimate businessman to conceal his ill-gotten gains.

"He is a dishonest individual who has not shown any remorse for his actions throughout this entire investigation, refusing to cooperate with police and attempting to destroy evidence.

"The extent of Sheibani's criminality should not be underestimated, not only is he involved in tax evasion and money laundering which has a detrimental effect on the economy and society, resulting in honest taxpayers feeling that burden, but the source of his tainted income is as a result of a class A drugs conspiracy.

"This has been a complex investigation which has included a number of international enquiries and I would like to thank the dedicated team of GMP detectives and financial investigators who have working alongside CPS to gather all the evidence which has allowed us to expose Sheibani's fraudulent lifestyle and the criminal activity he had tried so hard to conceal, and ensure he faces justice.”

"May today's sentencing serve as a warning to anyone thinking they can get away with such fraudulent and criminal activity, we will find you, and ensure that you face the full consequences of your actions."