7:50am Saturday 22nd January 2011

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8806825.Father_and_two_sons_jailed_over_drug_dealing/

A father and his two sons, who played major roles in a £180,000 drug dealing and money laundering crimewave, have been locked up for a total of 11 years.

Abdul Khaliq, and sons Imran and Rizwan, operated a criminal enterprise for four years from the home they shared in Silverhill Drive, Bradford Moor.

Prosecutor John Topham told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that police searched the house, in April 2008, and found 15.7 grammes of cocaine in a food mixer in the kitchen, along with scales and rubber gloves.

The drug was 75 per cent pure and valued at an estimated £780, but would have been worth more when cut down for sale on the street.

Officers also found £43,000, heavily contaminated with heroin, in the house.

Rizwan took responsibility for the drugs, while his brother admitted possessing the money.

A second raid, the following January, found a small amount of cocaine and cutting agents for drugs. The men were arrested and financial investigations uncovered large amounts of money, totalling £140,000, in different bank accounts, in Abdul Khaliq’s name.

Mr Topham said: “This money must have come from dealing class A drugs.”

Imran Khaliq, 31, of Silverhill Drive, pleaded guilty to possessing criminal property, and a charge of causing actual bodily harm to a senior accident and emergency sister at Leeds General Infirmary, while on bail. The court heard he was taken to the hospital by taxi. He was intoxicated and punched the nurse in the side of the jaw as she tried to help him into a wheelchair.

Rizwan Khaliq, 30, of Acton House, Scoresby Street, Bradford, pleaded guilty to possessing the cocaine with intent to supply, and conspiracy to launder money, involving £4,380. He also admitted dangerous driving, uninsured driving and failing to provide a specimen of blood, also while on bail.

Mr Topham said the defendant was driving a high-powered £29,000 Audi S3, which had been loaned to Imran, in White Abbey Road, when he was seen by police. A pursuit took place along Gracechurch Street, Lumb Lane, Manningham Lane, Hamm Strasse, Shipley-Airedale Road, and ended when he was boxed in by police in Fagley Road. During the chase he went through at least one red light, drove at 80mph on Hamm Strasse, drove on the wrong side of the road, and had to swerve to avoid collisions.

Abdul Khaliq, 52, now living at Sandford Road, Barkerend, pleaded guilty to four charges of conspiracy to launder money. He said he was put up to it by people he was afraid to name, and got no money for himself.

His barrister, Tim Stead, said he had worked as a sports supervisor and taxi driver and cared for his 77-year-old arthritic father, supported his wife who has chronic depression and was the legal guardian of a four-year-old grandson.

Judge John Potter told the defendants: “Each of you were major players in a drug enterprise.”

He jailed Rizwan for three years and nine months, with a further eight months for dangerous driving. Abdul was sentenced to three years. Imran was also jailed for three years, with a further ten months for the actual bodily harm, which the judge said was a “rank disgrace” to a woman working as a public servant.