Ten members of an organised crime gang who conspired to supply Class A drugs in Burnley and exploit vulnerable children into selling drugs have been jailed for a combined total of nearly 60 years.
In 2019, the our Targeted Crime Unit launched OpCroatia, which specifically looked at disrupting the activities of the gang members associated with the ‘AK line’.
Preston Crown Court heard how the crime group was headed by brothers Junaid Khan and Zain Khan, who directed street dealers, including children, to sell crack cocaine and heroin on their behalf.
During the 15-month conspiracy, drugs were distributed from Zain Khan’s Burnley home to street dealers, who in turn would bring back cash – at times stuffing bundles through Khan’s letter box.
Next in line in the structures were gang ‘lieutenants’ Mohammed Jabbar and Shohib Safdar, who were responsible for directing dealers where to sell drugs and ensuring they always had a ready supply.
Co-defendants Morgan Ellis, Gemma Jackson, Alan Pickard, Josh Jackson, Tracey Brown and Darren Catlow were either managers or street dealers within the gang.
The gang exploited 12 teenagers, three aged just 14, into selling drugs as part of the conspiracy, which ran from May 2018 to August 2019.
At the behest of the Khans and Jabbar, the children – sometimes still in school uniform - would arrive at an address used by the gang to collect drugs and then be deployed back out to locations elsewhere in the Burnley area in order to conduct drug deals.
The gang was placed under surveillance and all members of the conspiracy were caught engaging in criminal behaviour of some kind across Burnley. On many occasions they were even filmed in the act.
During the course of the investigation, officers arrested countless people. When 📱’s were seized, they would quickly buy a new handset & register it under the same number or register a new number & then send out a message to customers advertising they were ‘back in business’.
Significant quantities of heroin, crack cocaine and cash, as well as drug paraphernalia, drug dealer lists and mobile phones were seized from addresses and vehicles connected to the group.
On one occasion officers recovered a silver Mercedes ‘stash car’, parked close to properties associated with the Khans, filled with drugs and money.
On another occasion officers seized a Volkswagen Polo car which was being used to store drugs and found £10,000 in cash, as well as various amounts of crack cocaine and heroin pre-packaged for street deals.
When police arrested an associate of the Khan brothers, both defendants turned up at the scene and began taunting officers.
Junaid Khan said: “I run these blocks and have done since I was about 15,” while Zain Khan said: “Yeah, you know you can’t touch us. Search us, do what you want I don’t carry nothing.”
Zain Khan then said he earned more than the arresting officer in his sleep.
However, Zain Khan was arrested a few months later, on August 22, 2019, when officers conducted a series of raids at addresses across Burnley. He was found in possession of what was established to be the ‘AK line’ dealer phone and in excess of £10,000 cash in several packages.
Junaid Khan was arrested on the same day along with Gemma Jackson, at her home address, and a number of mobile phones were seized.
Judge Simon Medland QC said he accepted expert evidence that at least 20kg of Class A drugs were peddled onto the streets of Burnley with an estimated value of £2million.
The child victims are being safeguarded.
Sgt Andrew Osbaldeston, of East Targeted Crime Unit, said: “I welcome today’s sentences and they send out a clear message that Lancashire Police will not tolerate organised crime groups operating in our communities and targeting children”.
“The Khan brothers thought they were untouchable and above the law but through dedicated police work and excellent surveillance, we have managed to bring them to justice and take the Ak Line permanently offline.”
Detective Chief Inspector Tim Brown had this to say.
If you believe drug-dealing activity or child criminal exploitation is occurring in your area call police on 101 or report it online at doitonline.lancashire.police.uk. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers at 0800 555111.
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