A FIFTH man has been imprisoned after the police busted a large-scale organised crime ring selling kilos of Class A drugs in the Bradford area.

Mohammed Haleem was jailed for three years and four months just two days after his cousin, Yaser Nazir, was locked up for his role in the operation.

Haleem, 39, of Reginald Street, Little Horton, Bradford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Prosecutor Alasdair Campbell told Bradford Crown Court today that Haleem was recruited by Nazir to store the drugs and was involved in the handover of two kilos of cocaine on March 19 this year.

Haleem and Nazir were in a blue Skoda Octavia that was stopped by an armed response unit. A kilo block of cocaine worth £40,000 was seized from the vehicle and a search of Haleem’s home led to the seizure of two one-kilo blocks of high purity cocaine valued at £80,000.

Mr Campbell said that in all the police recovered five kilos of cocaine on March 19, following a major surveillance operation.

The court heard that Haleem provided a safe-house for the drugs while Nazir stored the money.

Mr Campbell said there was no evidence that Haleem was involved in selling the drugs on any dates before his arrest. It was not possible to say when he came into possession of the cocaine he was storing at his house.

Haleem’s barrister, Jeremy Hill-Baker, said he fell into temptation after losing his job at the Post Office. He was short of money and recruited by Nazir for financial gain.

Mr Hill-Baker said Haleem had glowing character references from family members and community workers.

This would be his first prison sentence and he had tested positive for coronavirus while in prison on remand.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell QC, said the police seized £1.214 million of cocaine and heroin when they busted the operation.

He said Haleem was recruited by Nazir for financial reward. Haleem offered to help him by storing the drugs at his home and accompanying him to hand over cocaine on one occasion.

Judge Mansell said that, like Nazir, Haleem was “a glorified courier and warehouse-man.”

But he was below his cousin in the organisation’s pecking order.

It was Haleem who took the risk of storing the drugs and who had the cocaine in his jacket when the police swooped.

The gang’s money launderer is still to be sentenced.