Bradford Drug Duo Jailed After Hiding 14 Kilos of Cocaine Inside Gas Canister
High-Tech Hideout for Class A Drugs
Two men from Bradford, Faruk Miah and Safraz Latif, pulled off a slick drug smuggling stunt by stuffing a whopping 14 kilos of cocaine inside a gas canister. The clever device was so sophisticated it actually released real gas from the valve, fooling officers who uncovered the stash during a raid on 9 February last year. Alongside the drugs, police also seized a quarter of a kilo of cannabis and a pistol.
Leaders of Drug Ring Face Heavy Sentences
Miah, 44, from Cornwall Place, Bradford, already admitted to possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis. At Bradford Crown Court, a jury found him guilty of also possessing an 8mm semi-automatic pistol. The court heard Miah played a key role in the criminal operation. Today, he was slapped with a hefty 18-year jail sentence.
Latif, 37, of Beacon Grove, Bradford, was convicted earlier of possession with intent to supply cocaine. He was sentenced to 11 years behind bars for his major part in the drug racket.
Police Send Warning to Drug Dealers
Det Insp Mark Atkinson of West Yorkshire Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit said: “This was a complex investigation revealing the sophistication used by these criminals to evade detection.”
“The significant sentences handed down today send a clear message that West Yorkshire Police, the courts, and the Crown Prosecution Service are united in keeping our communities safe.”
“Anyone looking to bring drugs into our area can expect to face the full force of the law.”
“We also want the public to know that any information about serious crime shared with us will be handled confidentially and used to protect West Yorkshire.”
