MAJOR POLICE STING Bradford ‘Max’ Drug Line Bosses Banged Up After Major Police Sting

The notorious ‘Max’ drug line, operating out of Bradford and pushing Class A drugs into East Lancashire, has been smashed. Last week, key players were jailed for their part in the county-wide illegal operation.

How Police Cracked the Case

The investigation kicked off after a crash involving an e-bike and a vehicle. The 17-year-old rider’s bag was searched, revealing 55 wraps of suspected heroin and crack cocaine, cash, and two phones – one a burner phone that buzzed non-stop in police hands.

Officers uncovered how the ‘Max’ line spread its drugs by blasting out mass texts to hundreds, advertising their deadly stock.

Rafiq Brothers at the Helm

At the centre were brothers Danyal, 29, and Mohammed Rafiq, 26, the organisation’s twin masterminds. While they kept their hands clean, middle managers like Mohammed Zafran, 32, handled the day-to-day hustle, passing orders to street dealers – including teens as young as 14 caught up in the dangerous trade.

The Rafiqs went to great lengths to cover their tracks. They used fully insured, taxed, and MOT’d cars to avoid suspicion. One incident saw dealers told to ‘graft’ on foot when insurance wasn’t sorted.

Mass Arrests Spark Downfall

In May 2025, police launched a raid on multiple addresses, nabbing Danyal, Zafran, and other gang members. Analysis of seized phones exposed at least five ‘Max’ numbers linked together, and messages from Richard Beresford, 44, and Daniel Morgan, 45, confirmed their roles in drug dealing.

Sentences Handed Down

• Danyal Rafiq – 12 years and 6 months for conspiring to supply heroin and crack.
• Mohammed Rafiq – 7 years after being found guilty of conspiracy.
• Mohammed Zafran – 6 years and 6 months following guilty plea.
• Richard Beresford – 4 years after pleading guilty.
• Daniel Morgan – 3 years following guilty plea.

The crackdown sends a clear message: county lines gangs trafficking poison across communities will be caught and locked up.

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