A DRUG baron who bought a Burnley post office to launder cash and deal heroin has been ordered to repay £50,000 of his estimated £1million profit.

A hearing at Preston Crown Court heard Azizul Wahab was part of a narcotics gang jailed for a total of 31 years following a trial two years ago.

Anthony Dewhurst, 28, of Russell Street, Roy Crossley, 21, of Albion Street, both Nelson, Wahab, 31, of Clive Street, Burnley, and Joseph Cromer, 29, of Clee Road, Scunthorpe, were all found guilty of conspiracy to supply heroin in the Burnley and Nelson areas.

The court heard the gang made so much money from drug dealing that they bought the Harle Syke Post Office to help launder profits from heroin sales.

During the seven-week trial at Preston Crown Court the jury heard so much cash was made that profits bought sports cars, holidays and Armani suits, as well as the sub-post office.

One of the gang, heroin addict Dewhurst, lived in Spartan conditions at the back of a shop in Leeds Road, Nelson, where a hatch was installed for the sale of drugs.

Up to 40 people a day, some with young children, were seen going to the shop, spending up to £60 a time on heroin. Police counted a total of 1,400 calls to Dewhurst's mobile from addicts arranging a visit to buy their fix.

In August 1998 Dewhurst moved to Russell Street, Nelson, where he continued dealing. During one 14 day period 400 people visited the shop.

But the court heard Wahab was the lynchpin of the gang and had made £1million from the operation.

He was ordered to pay back £50,000 in the next 12 months or face a further 18 months in prison. He is serving a 12-year sentence.

Harle Syke Post Office reopened in August last year in the local Spar shop after it was closed down during the police investigation.

Police and Post Office investigators raided the post office in August 1998 as part of a crack down, codenamed Operation Fiscal, aimed at heroin-related offences and money laundering.

After this week's hearing Det Sgt Steve Mounsey, who helped lead the investigation, said: "This draws a line under the investigation carried out in 1998 and we are satisfied that the amount of money accepted by the defence is a fair reflection of the money made by Wahab from trafficking drugs."