Hunt for drug dealers on run (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Hunt for drug dealers on run

6:20am Monday 6th October 2008

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Police today named four Bradford drug dealers on the run from justice who are wanted for peddling class A drugs and have either skipped bail or failed to appear in court.

Detective Inspector Neil Benstead, head of the Bradford District Drugs Team, said: “They are all involved in the serious business of dealing in class A drugs. We are appealing to the public to help bring them to justice.”

Two have been on the run for more than four years.

Joseph Akerman, 29, whose last known address was Longfield Drive, Dudley Hill, failed to appear in court for drugs trafficking offences in April 2004.

Gennaro Carusso, 42, failed to answer bail in May of the same year. Carusso, who had lived in Holroyd Hill, Odsal, may have returned to his native Italy.

Police are also seeking 35-year-old Zubair Ahmed Shah and Zahir Bashir, 29.

Shah, formerly of Hollings Square, Girlington, is wanted for failing to appear for class A drugs trafficking offences in January 2006.

It is believed he may be in Pakistan.

Bashir’s last known address was at Horton Grange Road, Great Horton. He previously frequented Manningham, Bradford city centre, Girlington and Allerton and is wanted for failing to answer bail on May 5.

Det Insp Benstead said: “Many thousands of pounds of drugs were recovered in these operations and dealer networks were dismantled.

“The final piece of the jigsaw now is to find them and for them to see justice and be locked up.

“We can’t charge people on suspicion at the point of arrest. We have got to get the evidence, so they need to be bailed for further inquiries.

“Sometimes that can take several months. Most people answer to their bail but if their circumstances change and they move away from the area they might not.

“These four individuals have all had previous connections with Bradford and several still have connections with the city.

“Someone must know who they are and where they are and we need to hear from them.”

• Drugs squad officers are still following up information after the Telegraph & Argus published an alert for 11 people wanted in connection with the large-scale production of cannabis.

The cannabis factory suspects, eight men and three women of Vietnamese or Chinese origin, were all based in the Bradford district but could now be anywhere in the UK.

Det Insp Benstead said: “We received some information about them following the appeal, but we still need to hear more from the public.”

Anyone who recognises any of the suspects is asked to contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or the Bradford drug intelligence office on (01274) 376067.

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