Six men were jailed for a total of more than 40 years for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute drugs, including heroin and cocaine, across the North.

Among the drugs gang was Bradford man David Reed, 32, of Prince’s Crescent, Bolton, who was given an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence in his absence after he went on the run before he was tried and convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine and amphetamines.

Another man from the district, Matthew Geddes, 32, of Southlands, Baildon, was jailed for five years, at Bradford Crown Court, after he pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

Also sentenced yesterday were Mohammed Rafiq Hussain, 49, of Church Walk, Northowram; and Stanley Carnall, 60, of Prenton, Liverpool, who were both jailed for ten years; and Neil Foster, 58, of Athol Green, Ovenden, Halifax, who received a five-year prison sentence.

They were all convicted of the conspiracy.

Linda Cockerham, 58, of Clare Street, Halifax, was also convicted of conspiracy and will be sentenced next week.

Paul Huggan, 38, of St John’s Lane, Halifax, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and was jailed for three years.

Judge Jonathan Rose said it was a carefully organised, planned and executed conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs.

The judge said that between August 2009 and May 2010, police conducted a surveillance operation, named Figaro, which included the seizure of drugs and money.

He said there were undoubtedly other people involved in the conspiracy, but he was confident they would be brought to justice.

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