Drugs gangs jailed for multi-million-pound heroin franchise empire

July 2011

Drugs barons who franchised out their heroin ‘dealerships’ have today been jailed for distributing millions of pounds worth of drugs throughout the UK.

The investigation which involved SOCA, South Yorkshire, West Midlands, West Yorkshire and Humberside police forces revealed that Mohammad Arif Hassan and brothers Hafeez and Rashid Rahman collaborated in trafficking almost 100 kilos of the Class A drug destined for the north of England.

Today in Leeds Crown Court handing down sentences totalling 50 years to the men, His Honour Judge Spencer said:” These men pretended to be upstanding members of the community whilst carrying out illegal drugs trafficking.”

Hassan headed up a Bradford based crime gang with his ‘lieutenants’ Asim Khan and Amur Fiaz. They used a flat in Bradford as a bash house to cut the heroin for onward sale to other ‘casual contract’ conspirators as and when required. Faisal Amin facilitated the link between Hassan and his suppliers.

At the same time brothers Hafeez and Rashid Rahman were operating a similar business based in Sheffield. The joint investigation revealed a clear trading relationship between the two groups, with money and drugs regularly passing between them.

In the four month period between April and July 2010, almost 90kg of high purity heroin was seized at locations in Birmingham, Sheffield and Bradford, along with more than £250,000 in cash.

Hassan, Khan and Fiaz were arrested in July. Searches of a flat in Bradford found documents, quantities of heroin and cocaine, cutting agents, scales, firearms and large quantities of cash.

Forensic evidence linked the Rahmans to Hassan’s gang and two months later Rashid Rahman was arrested in possession of 2kg of heroin. When officers arrested his brother Hafeez less than an hour later and searched his Sheffield flat, they found clear evidence that it was used as a bash house to cut the drugs for onward sale. Police seized heroin, cutting agents, paracetamol and caffeine and a hydraulic press.

SOCA’s Gerry Smyth said, “It’s not unusual for criminal gangs which might be expected to compete with each other to actually collaborate. These men were operating highly profitable criminal enterprises close to the top of the Class A drug supply chain and covering a large geographical area. The harm they had the potential to cause was enormous. Taking out their collective networks has interrupted a significant supply route.”

Andrew Penhale of the CPS Organised Crime Division said: “This case involved a conspiracy to supply a significant quantity of heroin in West and South Yorkshire, over a number of months. The profits generated from this business are substantial, as shown by the seizure of £150,000 on one occasion. Following a series of drug seizures, involving close co-operation between police forces and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), the CPS Organised Crime Division has successfully prosecuted the men behind the conspiracy who were linked by surveillance and telephone data to the individuals handling drugs on the ground."

Detective Sergeant Steve Walters, from West Midlands Police, said: “This was a significant haul of drugs which were almost certainly destined for the streets of Birmingham. The trade of illegal drugs across the West Midlands not only harms the lives of users, but also fuels further criminality which negatively impacts on communities. Along with our partners, West Midlands Police will always take robust action against those involved in drug crime."

Detective Superintendent, Richard Fewkes, from South Yorkshire Police, said: "This is an excellent example of how law enforcement agencies across the region can collaborate to disrupt and bring to justice organised criminal gangs. The impact this type of operation has on the supply of harmful drugs to local communities in South Yorkshire should not be underestimated.”

A West Yorkshire Police Spokesperson said: "This is an excellent example of the joint working between law enforcement agencies and how when criminals work across Force boundaries, their activities do not go unnoticed and we are able to mount operations in order to disrupt their criminality and bring offenders to justice."