A Bradford man has been jailed for 12 years for his role in a cocaine smuggling ring between South America and the UK.

Mohammed Ilyas, 33, of Cumberland Road, Girlington, was among three people sentenced to a total of 26 years and nine months behind bars for drugs offences at Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

Ilyas, who pleaded guilty to the importation of Class A drugs, is already serving two concurrent sentences under the same operation.

In January this year, he was jailed for eight years after pleading guilty to an offence of conspiracy to supply cocaine.

A week later, he was given a three-year jail sentence for his part in a conspiracy to import and sell “massive” quantities of cannabis.

The 12-year term he received yesterday will be served consecutively to the earlier sentences. Also sentenced yesterday was Columbian national Will Espitia Bueno, 36, of Rye Lane, London.

He was jailed for 11 years and three months for the importation of Class A drugs. He had previously been sentenced to six years in prison under the same operation for conspiracy to supply Class A Drugs and his latest sentence will run consecutively.

Nusheen Khan, 27, of Fir Avenue, Dewsbury, was also jailed yesterday for her part in the scheme. She was sentenced to three-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to evade a prohibition in relation to Class A drugs.

The convictions formed part of Operation Bizarre, an investigation around the importation and distribution of cocaine and cannabis.

After the case Temporary Detective Inspector Phil Little, of West Yorkshire Police’s Crime Division, said: “These latest sentences should be an indication of the lengths we will go to pursue those involved in drugs activity.

“Each of these individuals knowingly played a part in the transporting Class A drugs from South America into the UK.

"Through close collaboration with colleagues in both a local and foreign capacity, we have been able to create a detailed picture of their activities.

"It has subsequently ensured that these three will now spend some considerable time behind bars and away from the potential to cause harm to our communities.

"As a result of their actions, three other men are currently serving substantial sentences in Peru and Ecuador.

"We have also seized more than £25,000 and assets as part of Operation Bizarre which the Courts have now ordered to be confiscated from those convicted."