By Charlie Carmichael-
A drug gang of five men involved in the shipping of Class A drugs across the north of England have been jailed at Leeds Crown Court.
Ringleader Irfan Dad and his drug dealing team were caged for nearly 25 years altogether after West Yorkshire Police intersected their their supply chain, involved moving large quantities of cocaine from Leeds to the North East of England.
West Yorkshire has become a competing breeding ground for drug dealers, with many youngsters groomed from a young age. Leeds and Bradford have both been competing with London and Manchester when it comes to big time drug pushing. The widespread activity of drug dealing has become a haven for impressionable youths all chasing riches an attention through the most dangerous and criminal means.
There was a look of despair in the eyes of some of the family members who attended the court hearing of this gang for whom drug dealing had become the focus of their lives. They had been caught red handed by surveilling cops and had to face the time for their crimes.
Greed and lack of high future prospects is often a contributor to why many people select f=drug dealing over other legal sources of income.
The fact that all drug dealers face the uncomfortable reality of look over their shoulders most of the time, not knowing whether they will encounter the police or their rival first, and what the consequences would be. Th all face the uncomfortable reality of look over their shoulders most of the time, not knowing whether they will encounter the police or their rival first, and what the consequences would be.
Dad, 22, of Sandhurst Place, Harehills, Leeds was jailed for 12 years after admitting conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession of criminal property at an earlier hearing.
Mohammed Adil Rehem, 20, of Chapeltown, Leeds, admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession of criminal property at an earlier hearing. Rehem also admitted disqualified driving. He was jailed for three years and two months.
Adeel Habib, 23, of Leeds, admitted Conspiring to Supply Class A controlled Drugs and was jailed for four years.
Hassan Ahmed, 21,from Chapeltown, Leeds, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A, B and C drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. He was jailed for three years, nine months.
Mohamed Louqman Dad, 29, of Sandhurst Place, Harehills, Leeds admitted conspiring to supply class B controlled drugs. He was jailed for two years.
Officers stopped Rehem’s car on October 22020 after witnessing and exchange in a layby in Teeside. A search of Rehem’s VW Golf resulted in the discovery of a Chanel bag containing cash and eight further bundles of cash totalling £21,960.
Irfan Dad was arrested in the driver’s seat of a BMW in a yard behind a takeaway on Roundhay Road, Leeds. The BMW and two other vehicles – an Audi TT and Fiesta – believed to be connected to Dad were seized by police.
A bag containing 268 milligrams of cocaine was found in the BMW, together with disposable latex gloves and rolls of white bags. Dad’s DNA was found on the cocaine’s packaging. The Audi TT contained packages of cocaine, MDMA and cannabis skunk as well as dealer bags and scales.
Adeel Habib was closely watched by detectives during an afternoon going back and forth to the Audi TT, moving items within the vehicle and removing items from it. DNA from swabs taken from the driver’s door lever, passenger door lever and gear knob matched that of Habib.
The Fiesta contained cannabis skunk, and cocaine. Fingerprints from the cannabis packaging have been identified as those of Habib and Mohammed Louqman Dad.
Items found at Ahmed’s address included over a kilo of cannabis, six grams of high purity cocaine and 94 grams of etizolam, a class C drug usually sold as “Xanax”.
Dealer lists and other records linked to his drug business were found on Irfan Dad’s phone. Those lists included a dated running total rising from £343,365 on 14 June to £427,625 on September 27.
A total of 65 photos and videos were found on Irfan Dad’s phone showing bags of white powder with the appearance of cocaine on weighing scales.
An expert witness testified that all the items appeared to be cocaine in various formats ranging from 1kg blocks with identification stamps through to powder format after the adulteration phase has taken place. Three full one kilo blocks of high-purity cocaine can be seen, with the potential to produce nine kilograms.
Detective Superintendent Fiona Gaffney of West Yorkshire Police said: “I’m pleased that significant sentences were handed down to these individuals for their role in what was an organised drugs ring, supplying illegal substances on the streets of West Yorkshire and further afield.
“I hope these sentences show a real example of the penalties those who become involved in this kind of activity can face for becoming involved in the kind of drug dealing which causes misery in our communities.”
“Illegal substances have no place in our communities, and through Programme Precision, we will continue to target those involved in serious and organized crime to make West Yorkshire a safer place”.