A total of 65 offenders were charged in relation
Two men from Bradford have been jailed as part of a large-scale drug dealing operation in the city.
On November 26, 2020, Hamza Shakeel, aged 24, and Bakthyar Ali, aged 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and drugs trafficking.
Between February and July 2019, undercover police officers purchased Class A drugs from dealing lines which operated in the area of the Barkerend corridor into Bradford city centre.
For a long period of time, local residents and business owners had complained about the criminal activity in the area.
The complaints led to violent outbreaks which saw firearms discharges and violence which were suspected to be connected to a large-scale drugs operation.
The officers engaged with 18 different dealer lines buying Class A drugs from 65 identified offenders.
During the arrest phases, drugs were also seized and it came to a total value of £23,000.
A total of 65 offenders were charged in relation to this investigation and have been jailed for more than 161 years.
The convictions were handed to offenders who operated at different levels in the drug dealing network.
They ranged from street dealers to those who controlled the phone lines, handled the money and arranged larger weights for sale.
The Telegraph and Argus reported that another three men are awaiting sentencing as part of this investigation.
On December 18, 2020, Shakeel and Ali appeared at Bradford Crown Court.
Shakeel, of Kimberley Street, was jailed for five years and four months. Ali was sentenced to three years and three months in prison.
Detective Inspector Matt Walker, who led the investigation, said:
“The sentences passed by the Bradford Crown Court show that we are determined to continue the fight against those who seek to profit from the vulnerability of others.
“The supply and use of illegal drugs can have a devastating impact on our communities, not just to the individuals who take them but to countless others in the wider community who suffer as a result of drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour.
“These men have been brought to justice as part of a major crackdown on the supply of drugs in the Bradford District.”
“Which was led by specialist officers from the Programme Precision team.
“We remain firmly committed to keeping our communities safe and making use of every available resource to target those involved in the organised supply of drugs.
“Information from the community plays a vital role in the success of this work and we would urge anyone who had any information to assist us to contact the police or if preferred anonymously via Crimestoppers.”
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