Three Men jailed for involvement in Organised Crime

Three men from West Yorkshire have been jailed for a total of 35 years for their roles in organised crime that saw the seizure of cocaine and heroin worth £1.2 million and four Glock pistols with silencers and 200 rounds of ammunition.

Alasdair Campbell, prosecuting, said the men and others were arrested following a police surveillance operation into an organised crime gang operating in the Bradford area.

Rashid Ashraf played a leading role in the crime group. He used a network of people to store and deliver the drugs as well as launder money.

Police recovered 21 kilograms of high-purity cocaine and two kilograms of heroin with a combined value of £1.2 million.

Also recovered was £273,000 in cash and “assassination kits” of four Glock pistols with silencers and 200 rounds of ammunition.

In April 2020, Ashraf was arrested by armed police. He had been in a Mercedes with the registration plate PI5TOL. He was found in possession of a kilo block of cocaine.

Rizwan Shah worked for Ashraf, storing the drugs and guns, while Raja Altaf was a multi-kilo drugs customer of the organisation.

Ashraf pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession of criminal property and conspiracy to possess prohibited weapons and ammunition.

Shah pleaded guilty to possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply, possession of criminal property and possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.

Altaf pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply and dangerous driving.

One man, yet to be sentenced, laundered £5 million for the organised crime group.

Matthew Harding, defending Ashraf, admitted that a lengthy prison sentence was inevitable but said he did not fall into the top category of drug suppliers.

He had no previous convictions for firearms offences.

Ashraf was concerned about his elderly parents who received threats following his arrest.

Jonathan Turner, for Shah, said family members had suffered serious health problems due to the stress after his arrest.

Andrew Dallas, for Altaf, said his client was of previous good character. He was a drug addict who got involved because of debts and pressure.

He was a carer for his ill mother and had worked as a delivery driver and at a hardware store.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell QC, concluded that Ashraf played a leading role in the organisation, Shah was an operative and Altaf was a drugs customer.

On December 4, 2020, the men were sentenced at Bradford Crown Court.

Ashraf, aged 40, of Heckmondwike (also known as Mohammed Rashid), was jailed for 18 years.

Shah, aged 27, of Girlington, Bradford, was jailed for 10 years.

Altaf, aged 28, of Manningham, Bradford, was jailed for seven years.

The Telegraph and Argus reported that three others are yet to be sentenced for their involvement in the organised crime group, which ran from February to May 2020.