A DRUG dealer from Burnley was jailed for eight years for his role in a gang which brought £860,000 of heroin and crack cocaine into the North West.

Behzad Ali was one of seven men sentenced as part of Operation Alamos, which probed the hard drugs trade in Burnley and Oldham.

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Prosecutors said that the inquiry began after suspicions were raised that the gang had been bringing in heroin from Pakistan for a year from April 2013.

Each of the parcels would arrive in the UK via air freight, disguised as innocent items like clothes or restaurant menus.

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They would then be delivered by distribution companies to addresses including ones in Burnley.

Police said the addresses would only ever be used once so as to avoid suspicion.

But closer inspection of the parcels by UK Border Agency officials showed they contained heroin of between 50 and 60 per cent purity.

Drugs were even found sewn into the lining of a purse.

The court heard that the packages were delivered to a number of addresses in Burnley and Oldham, with couriers using an array of aliases in order to evade detection.

In total around 5kg of illegal drugs are believed to have been brought into the country by the gang.

Ali, of Belvedere Road, was dealt with at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court after admitting importing class A drugs, alongside six others from the Oldham area.

He was also made the subject of a serious crime prevention order - which will restrict his freedom when he has served his current prison term.

After the hearing, Det Con Gary Lamont, one of the investigating officers, said: “This is a fantastic result for us because it means we have prevented hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of heroin and crack cocaine from making it onto the streets and causing misery.

“It was a sophisticated and complex importation case and these jail sentences are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our officers on the ground.”

A Border Force spokesman said: “Border Force officers, like those that made this seizure, play a crucial role in protecting the UK from illegal drugs and other contraband.

“We are on constant alert at the border to prevent the trade in drugs like heroin and stop it from reaching the streets.

“Working with law enforcement colleagues, including the police, we are determined to combat drug trafficking and put those responsible behind bars.”

Ali, who has also lived in Leyland Road, Burnley, also got into trouble after a domestic violence incident, towards the end of his drug-running career.

He was fined £250 with a £25 victim surcharge after admitting damaging a police radio and stab vest, and resisting an officer. The punishment was written off because he was already in custody on the drugs charges.

Moazam Ali, 27, of Leyland Road, and Tahir Shah, 34, of Thurston Street, both Burnley ,were arrested on suspicion of importing class A drugs at the same time as Behzad Ali, but no charges were brought and they were cleared of involvement.