West Yorkshire Crime Gang ‘Striker’ Flooded South Cumbria with Drugs
A brutal West Yorkshire crime gang, calling itself ‘Striker’, flooded South Cumbria with crack cocaine and heroin between 26 July and 9 September 2021. The gang exploited vulnerable kids as young as 14, using them to traffic drugs from Bradford all the way to Barrow-in-Furness.
Leaders and Dealers Locked Up
- Asim Hussain (21) of Waterlily Road, Bradford, boss of the gang, was slammed with eight years in prison. He was also hit with a Serious Crime Prevention Order for conspiracy to supply crack cocaine, heroin, and money laundering.
- Adil Hussain (19), Asim’s brother, got a 12-month community order for money laundering.
- Jibram Rahman (27) of Round Street, Bradford, a drugs courier, was jailed for three years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
- Abaas Ali (31), another drug courier from Brighouse, received four years for conspiracy and money laundering.
- Simon Harrison (36), a street dealer from Halifax, was sentenced to two years and three months for possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.
Two others, Matthew Murphy (20) and Kelly Newby (41), were sentenced earlier for their parts in the conspiracy. Nathan Wharton (33), a street dealer, pleaded guilty but awaits sentencing.
Exploiting Kids and Co-ordinated Drug Runs
The investigation kicked off with a police raid on 26 July 2021 at Newby’s flat in Barrow. Officers found Murphy on the phone to Asim Hussain, seizing £1,235 cash—drug money. Murphy’s phone texts revealed he took orders from Asim, including messages like: “Wen should I pass d white.”
Between 7 and 11 August, the gang sent kids aged 14, 15, and 16 from Bradford to Barrow to move and sell drugs. One 16-year-old was found with Wharton, who was caught with a hand axe, £340, 24 wraps of crack, and 36 wraps of heroin.
From 18 to 25 August, a blue Nissan Micra shuttled Class A drugs between Bradford and Barrow five times. On 25 August, police stopped it near Ulverston. Inside were Harrison, Ali, and Rahman. While claiming to be beach-goers, Rahman was caught with 40 wraps of heroin, 54 wraps of crack cocaine stamped with Asim Hussain’s fingerprints, and a large knife.
On 1 September, a 14-year-old travelling by rail to Barrow was caught with £1,000 in cash after acting suspiciously at Lancaster station. Texts revealed he was in constant contact with the gang and nervous but determined to make the trip.
Final Police Raid and Strong Words from Authorities
On 7 October 2021, Cumbria and West Yorkshire police raided the Hussain brothers’ home in Bradford. They seized phones packed with evidence showing the gang’s drug operations, including child exploitation and other supply lines into Bradford and Barnsley. Over £2,000 cash was seized from Adil Hussain’s bedroom.
“The Hussain brothers’ drug operation exploited the most vulnerable in society, for profit. They used children to traffic drugs into the county and made money from Cumbrians struggling with addiction,” said a spokesperson from Cumbria’s Community Serious and Organised Crime Unit.
“This lengthy, complex investigation, carried out with West Yorkshire and British Transport Police, has delivered justice. We hope these sentences send a strong message: if you sell Class A drugs in south Cumbria, we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you—wherever you live.”
