An organised crime group sought to flood the streets of East Lancashire with drugs through the illegal supply of heroin and cocaine.

Eleven people, mostly from across Accrington and Rossendale, appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday (February 15) to begin the sentencing process following their trial.

A 12th man, who was remanded into custody, refused to attend court for sentencing.

Their offending related to Operation Supercharger, launched by Lancashire Police’s East Exploitation Team two years ago after a boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested in Rossendale in possession of drugs, £1,000 in cash, and a machete.

The following appeared at court:

•            Sameer Hussain, 21, of Wheatholme Street, Rawtenstall – charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

•            Martin Magee, 44, of Carr Road, Rawtenstall - charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, and possession with intent to supply heroin and MDMA.

•            Lee Thomas, 43, of Fallbarn Crescent, Rawtenstall - charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, and possession with intent to supply heroin and MDMA.

•            Waqaar Khan, 27, of College Street, Accrington – charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

•            Hamza Munir, 25, of College Street, Accrington - charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and possession with intent to supply cocaine.

•            Hamza Anwar, 25, of Garbett Street, Accrington - charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

•            Ibrahim Khan, 21, of College Street, Accrington - charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

•            Waqaas Khan, 30, of no fixed address - charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

•            Muhammad Israeel, 18, of Wheatholme Street, Rawtenstall - charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin

•            Thomas Linford, 25, of Claremont Terrace, Glasgow - charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin

•            Peter Bell, 41, of Kenyon Street, Manchester - charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin

Basha Ullah, 37, of Richmond Hill Street, Accrington, charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, refused to attend court.

Prosecuting, Jamie Baxter said the defendants sought to supply class A drugs between September 2022 and June 2023.

He said: “The case concerns activities of an organised crime group in Accrington and Rossendale involved in the supply of class A crack cocaine and heroin, and trafficking in this case orchestrated through the use of dedicated drugs lines.

“Arrangements were made through runners, young men tasked with handing over drugs, before profits are collected.

“The prosecution’s case is that the drugs lines were headed by the Khan family, and principally by the defendant Waqaas Khan.”

Mr Baxter said Waqaas Khan directed and coordinated the distribution of class A drugs from a prison cell using a burner phone. He “continued to control the operation and flow of drugs into East Lancashire, passing instructions to those acting on his behalf.”

Waqaar Khan was said to be principally involved in collection and would hold meetings between himself and the runners to receive cash.

Sameer Hussain was said to be the hands-on manager of the runners, in near-daily contact with them and messages recovered from his mobile phone suggested he acted as a go-between for the runners and those higher up the chain.

Mohammed Israeel was one of three young men recruited, said by the prosecution to be due to their age, to supply drugs on the streets. Messages recovered from his phone showed he was involved in the daily supply of cocaine and heroin, and the trio would often take it in turns to deal in order to ensure a ready supply of drugs.

Hamza Munir was arrested on May 3 and was observed throwing £7,000 in cash and scales out of a bedroom window. Recovered messages showed he was directed to collect and store proceeds from the supply of drugs.

Martin Magee and Lee Thomas were recruited to sell cocaine on behalf of the group, while Magee also allowed his address to be used as a space to store and ‘bash’ drugs.

The Crown said Hamza Anwar facilitated the supply and was concerned in the supply of class A drugs before these two lines came into existence.

Finally, Bashar Ullah was said to principally be a criminal associate of Waqaas Khan and was convicted alongside him as part of Operation Melford in May 2022.

Mr Baxter said the conspiracies began in 2022 when Waqaas Khan first began using his burner phone in prison, resulting in the creation of the new drugs lines.

The court also heard the opening of a separate indictment against Magee and Peter Bell, which encompassed the same time period as before.

On April 26, a warrant was executed at Magee’s address and he was found in the house unresponsive. The premises was searched and a number of items, including burner phones, handwritten notes, and scales were found.

Daniel Bramhall, prosecuting, said Magee and Bell had been working together to supply class A drugs.

The sentencing continues today (February 16).