The “trusted lieutenant” in a big drugs gang has been jailed for 12 years after police seized his seven kilo heroin stash, £750,000 in cash and a sawn-off double-barrel shotgun from a Bradford house.

Zulfiqar Shah, 43, was linked to the haul, found at a property in Rylstone Mount, Lidget Green, by fingerprint evidence.

Officers found almost £400,000 of heroin, crack cocaine, amphetamine and mephedrone hidden in the kitchen and garage, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Bundles of banknotes were stacked in briefcases in the bedrooms and a hoard of coins bagged up in a safe.

The police discovered a Browning 525 12-bore shotgun and ammunition concealed under a pile of rubbish in the garden. The court heard it was stolen in a burglary in Blackburn.

The haul, seized on July 12, included scales, mixing agents, a bullet-proof vest, six 6.35 calibre and four 0.380 calibre bullets, a money counter, vacuum packer and numerous mobile phones, prosecutor Ewan McLachlan said.

Shah, of Hollybank Road, Great Horton, Bradford, pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs with intent to supply and possessing money directly or indirectly linked to crime. He also admitted possession of the gun and bullets and possessing a firearm when prohibited.

Joanne Leriche, 37, who allowed Shah to store the drugs at her home, pleaded guilty to their possession. She was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with supervision, 150 hours’ unpaid work and a four month curfew order.

Mr McLachlan said briefcases of cash were found in the bedroom of Leriche’s nine-year-old daughter.

There was so much money it had to be counted by the Bank of England.

Shah was jailed for 18 months in 1997 for possession of a firearm and ammunition without a certificate. In 2001, he was locked up for eight years for possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.

His barrister, Rodney Ferm, said he deeply regretted involving Leriche. He worked as a self-employed builder and was not a leading player in the drugs operation.

Jayne Beckett, for Leriche, said he was controlling. “She was too weak and turned a blind eye,” she said.

Leriche was a devoted mother and valued friend and neighbour.

Judge Potter told Leriche: “You were significantly used and abused by Mr Shah. I accept that you were in fear and controlled by him.” She was otherwise “a positive and good person”.

The judge said Shah’s stash was the assets of “a significant criminal commercial enterprise.”

“You were a person either at the centre, or a high-ranking and trusted lieutentant in such an organisation,” he told Shah.