FOUR men have been jailed for a total of 25 years following an investigation into the distribution of illegal drugs in the North of England and Scotland.

Bradford men Sheraz Ali, Ashiq Hussain and Junaid Khan were sentenced after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply offences.

The sentences related to conspiracies to supply heroin to Newcastle and cannabis to Dundee with an estimated street value of more than £250,000.

Mosin Raja, also of Bradford, drove to Scotland with 15 kilos of cannabis on November 27, 2019, which had been loaded into the boot of a car at Hussain’s address.

He was stopped by police just outside of Dundee by West Yorkshire Police and Police Scotland officers and the drugs were seized.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Cannabis bags recovered in this case Cannabis bags recovered in this case

Raja, 23, of Trenton Drive, was jailed for two years in April this year after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis.

On 23 April 2020, Ali and Hussain arranged for a quantity of compressed heroin to be secreted into the door panel of a car and arranged for a driver to attend from the North East to take it up there on a recovery truck.

The truck pulled over in Bradford after Hussain called the driver and told him to do so. Ali and Hussain then dispatched Khan to pay the driver and get the vehicle back. It was during this process that police arrested Khan and the recovery driver.

Ali and Hussain were later arrested. Ali was found to be in possession of an encrypted phone.

A total of 6.5 kilos of compressed heroin was found within the door panel of the car. Hussain was found to be forensically linked to the drugs and a hydraulic press was located at his address.

All those involved in the conspiracies pleaded guilty due to the evidence which had been gathered against them, including a fifth man Kesa Malik, 26, of Wingrove Gardens, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who is due to be sentenced at a later date after he pled guilty to being concerned in the Newcastle conspiracy.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The heroin recovered in this case The heroin recovered in this case

Ali, 39, of Bronshill Grove in Allerton, was jailed for a total of 10 years at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

Hussain, 49, of Bingley Road, was sentenced to a total of nine years and four months.

Khan, 21, also of Bingley Road, was jailed for three years and eight months.

Judge Colin Burn commended the ‘diligent’ work of the investigation team.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Jon Key of the Protective Services Crime Department, said: “This was a substantial investigation by members of our Programme Precision team into an organised crime gang who intended to transport illegal drugs from Bradford to other areas of the UK.

“I would like to thank the work of the team which has led to these sentences and hope they serve as a warning to those involved in organised crime in West Yorkshire that they will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.”

Anyone with information about the supply of illegal drugs is urged to report it to police by calling 101 or via the options on the West Yorkshire Police website.

Reports can also be made anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.