Five out of 10 men jailed for dealing drugs in Burnley

Hassan Raza, 21, Moynul Islam, 24, Shahria Islam, 19, Rayyan Ahmed, 19, Camran Khan, 19, Mohammed Shahid Khan, 20, Tayyib Haider, 21, Tanvier Khalique, 20, Zane Sarrionandia, 20, and Nasir Uddin, 20, appeared before Preston Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced for their crimes.

Hassan Raza (Image: Lancs Police)

At an earlier hearing, Neil Bisarya, prosecuting, told the court that between February 2021 and February 2022, the gang, headed up by Raza, had been dealing drugs in nightclubs across Burnley, including Mode, Projekt and Harvey’s Bar.

They were also dealing to 5,199 contacts using drugs lines known as the Tiger line - which dealt mainly with heroin and crack cocaine - and the AP line - which was also dealing with heroin and crack - plus another line which was concerned solely in the supply of cocaine.

Moynul Islam (Image: Lancs Police)

Underneath Raza, and playing significant roles in the conspiracy, were Moynul Islam, Shahria Islam, Rayyan Ahmed and Camran Khan who, at times, would take control of the drugs lines and would also prepare and bag up drugs for onward sale by street dealers.

Mr Bisarya said Ahmed and Camran Khan were trusted by Raza, as was Tayyib Haider, who was also left in charge of the Tiger line on occasion.

Camran Khan (Image: Lancs Police)

Khalique, Sarrionandia and Shahid Khan were trusted street dealers, while Nasir Uddin was involved in another drug gang which crossed over with this one, via the Islams.

The court heard how in October and November 2021, thousands of text message exchanges were passed between the various members of the group.

These detailed the arrangement of deals, the organisation of pick-ups, deciding who would be bagging up the drugs and heading out to the clubs; and ultimately detailing the payments which Raza was supplying to his gang members for carrying out his drug dealing.

Rayyan Ahmed (Image: Lancs Police)

Over a 40-day period, the Tiger line was believed to have received 5,419 calls, with Mr Bisarya saying that if each of the 5,199 contacts of the drugs line purchased a £30 deal, the total amount made by the gang would have been £155,970.

He said: “These figures however do not take into account that a drug user could call the line and purchase multiple deals at the same time.”

Conversations about the ‘washing’ of cocaine were also had, as well as arguments about who would be stashing the drugs and who would be bagging them up.

Raza and Moynul Islam also arranged for a rival dealer’s car to be torched.

Shahria Islam (Image: Lancs Police)

In September 2021, Ahmed was caught fighting in Hargreaves Street, Burnley, and was found with 23 snap bags of cocaine, with further drugs found at his address.

In November 2021, Moynul Islam and Khalique were caught in an Audi in March Street, with Islam being in possession of £1,205 in cash and an iPhone, and Khalique with 12 bags of white powder. A large hunting knife in a sheath was also discovered in the boot.

Ahmed and Camran Khan were later caught on Christmas Eve driving erratically through Burnley town centre, and, while Khan ran off, Ahmed was found with 123g of cocaine and a similar amount of heroin.

Cash seized by the police (Image: Lancs Police)

On Boxing Day, a taxi was stopped in Burnley and was found to have Raza and Ahmed in it, which led to a property on Barden Lane being searched, where police discovered medication in the name of Ahmed, and Shahid Khan and Raza’s fingerprints on various items.

All of these events eventually culminated in their final arrests in early 2022, charges and subsequent guilty pleas in court.

Cocaine seized by the police (Image: Lancs Police)

Today, the following have been jailed for a combined total of 25 years and 11 months.

• Raza, of Holbreck Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin and conspiracy to commit arson. He was jailed for six years and eight months.
• Moynul Islam, of March Street, Burnley, who has two previous drugs convictions, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin and conspiracy to commit arson, as well as being concerned in the supply of class A drugs for a different conspiracy. He was jailed for eight years and nine months.
• Rayyan Ahmed, of Williams Road, Burnley, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin. He was jailed for three years.
• Shahria Islam, of Devonshire Road, Burnley, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin, possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and possession of criminal property. He was jailed for four years.
• Camran Khan, of High Street, Keighley, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin, dangerous driving, driving without a insurance or a licence and failing to stop for police. He was jailed for three years and six months and banned from driving for two years and will have to take an extended retest if he wants to drive again.

The following have been handed suspended sentences:

• Mohammed Shahid Kham, of Colne Road, Burnley, has two previous drugs convictions, and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin and breach of an order. Handed a two year prison sentence suspended for 18 months, 30 rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours of unpaid work.
• Haider, of Quaker Rise, Brierfield, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. Handed a two year prison sentence suspended for 18 months, 30 rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours of unpaid work.
• Sarrionandia, of Charles Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine. Handed an 18 month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, 15 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours of unpaid work.
• Khalique, of Belford Street, Burnley, has one previous conviction for weapons offences and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine, heroin and cocaine. Handed a two year prison sentence suspended for 18 months, 30 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours of unpaid work
• Nasir Uddin, of Burns Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and crack cocaine and two counts of possession of criminal property, for a separate conspiracy involving the Islams. Handed an 18 month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, 15 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Knives seized by the police (Image: Lancs Police)

Judge Ian Unsworth KC said: “All of you were less than 25 years old when you committed these offences, some were in your mid-to-late teens – some of you only 16 and 17.

“In some cases, your use of drugs yourself led you to be exploited by others.

“Each of you engaged in dealing drugs in a trade that peddles misery for users, their families and communities, while offering you potential for profit.

“These offences have all the hallmarks of many that have come before these courts.

“Each and every transaction that you involved yourselves in involved an act of harm being committed towards purchasers, their families and other people who live in the community, who have suffered the effects of crime, degradation and misery.

“The class A drug addictions also being cases of depressing familiarity.

“I would like to commend the police team who dealt with this investigation for their time and efforts in helping to secure these convictions.”