Two drug dealers jailed

Aftar Khan

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Two drug dealers responsible for peddling heroin and crack cocaine on the streets of Rochdale have been jailed.

Aftar Khan (born 19/05/1988), of Industry Road, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply and dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

Aziz Ur Rahman (born 07/03/1991), of Beswicke Road, Royds Street, Rochdale, also pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply.

On 9 January 2013, Khan was jailed for a total of five years and four months and Rahman for two years.

On 24 March 2012, Khan was arrested by police and found in possession of two wraps and heroin, cash and a mobile phone, having been seen by police to drive past a number of well-known drug addicts in the Spotland area of Rochdale.

After his arrest, his flat and a family address were searched and along with a quantity of cash that was seized, officers also discovered a document referring to Khan as 'Fifty' which was his drug dealing nickname.

In August of that year, Khan – who had been bailed - was again pursued by police who suspected he was dealing and was seen throwing drug wraps from the car as he was chased. These were eventually recovered and found to be heroin. He was again arrested and two mobile phone sim cards stashed in his socks were also found.

Khan was again arrested, this time along with Rahman, on 2 November 2011, when again the pair were seen by police driving in the Rochdale area and once again, attempted to discard drugs through the window.

The jettisoned drugs were found and analysed, later revealed to be five wraps of heroin and five wraps of crack cocaine.

Finally, in January 2012, Khan yet again tried to discard drugs when he was spotted by a police officer on foot in the Falinge area of Rochdale. This time, he threw a polythene ball under a car and fled. The ball contained 14 wraps of heroin.

When police saw Khan driving a red Volkswagen GTI car later that month in the Spotland area, he refused to stop which resulted in a pursuit. Khan drove through a red light, onto the opposite side of the road and crashed. Khan fled but was later found hiding out in a local heroin addict's home.

Aftar Khan was re-arrested on 8 March 2012 by the investigating officer, Khan was remanded into custody.

As the investigation unfolded, police uncovered swathes of telecommunications evidence revealing the extent of Khan's drug dealing enterprise, as officers discovered drug dealer messages and numerous calls from local addicts from mobile phones and telephone boxes.

Of the 12 phones seized from Khan and Rahman by police, 24,000 calls and texts were made relating to drug deals.

Police Constable Gabriel Gibson, Investigating Officer, said: "Khan's drug dealing business stretched across Rochdale, and he was responsible for getting extremely harmful substances onto our streets through his nefarious actions.

"He was making money from his criminality but still had the front to claim Job Seekers Allowance.

"People like Khan, who deal drugs, bring decay and misery to local communities as drugs often fuel other crimes in the borough.

"Ordinarily, the small amount of drugs seized would not attract a long sentence. However, we were able to illustrate that Khan's drug dealing was far beyond the 30 wraps in total that were seized from him. The painstaking process of telecommunications inspection has enabled the judge such stringent sentences.

"I hope this sentence serves as a deterrent to other street dealers who think they can carry small amounts of Class A drugs and get away with it."