A MAN has been charged in connection with a drug-dealing operation at a Burnley post office - six years after police began looking for him.

Arshid Khan was arrested by officers from the National Crime Squad in Bradford last week.

He has been accused of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and will appear at Preston Crown Court on November 27.

Detectives began looking for Khan after smashing a drugs operation at Harle Syke Post Office.

Azizul Wahab, the drugs baron who bought the post office, was jailed for 12 years in 2002.

Wahab was also last year ordered to repay £50,000 of his estimated £1million profit.

Anthony Dewhurst, 28, of Russell Street, Roy Crossley, 21, of Albion Street, both Nelson, Wahab, 31, of Clive Street, Burnley, and Joseph Cromer, 29, of Clee Road, Scunthorpe, were all found guilty of conspiracy to supply heroin in the Burnley and Nelson areas.

The jury in the 2000 trial heard Arshid Khan had disappeared in 1998 but police had not been able to find him.

In 1998 Pennine Police circulated his details to forces nationwide asking for their assistance in tracing him.

A police spokesman said: "Following the original incident, details of a man we wanted to speak to were circulated to other forces.

"As a result, a man was arrested in Bradford on October 6, 2004."

A spokesman for the National Crime Squad said: "I can confirm we did arrest this man on October 6 in Bradford on behalf of Lancashire Police."