Three men have been jailed for their roles in trafficking large amounts of cannabis throughout the North West.
Lancashire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit conducted an investigation between May 2023 and July 2024 into the gang involved in the supply.
During the investigation, around 30kg of cannabis was seized as were three handguns and 14 rounds of ammunition.
The principal figure in the operation was Hafiz Razaq (pictured right) who coordinated the cannabis supply and had a network of customers throughout the region.
Cannabis was sourced from associates in the Bolton area which was then supplied on.
On 1st December 2023, Razaq was seen outside his home address putting heavily laden big bags into the boot of his car.
A short time later, Razaq met with a courier on the outskirts of Preston.
After that meeting, the courier’s car was stopped on the M6 near to Lancaster. In the boot of the car were bin bags containing eight-and-a-half kilos of cannabis skunk.
On 9th January 2024, Razaq travelled to Bolton and was seen placing bags into his car.
He travelled back to his home and later that day, met with Deepak Singh (pictured below) and another man in Preston.
An exchange took place, with Singh and the other man followed by officers as they travelled towards Cumbria.
Eight kilos of cannabis were found in the boot. The cannabis was intended for Jordan Riddick who lived in Barrow, with Riddick a customer of Razaq.
A search of Singh’s home recovered three handguns and 14 compatible rounds of ammunition from a rucksack in his bedroom.
At a sentence hearing on 13th November at Preston Crown Court, Razaq, Singh and Riddick were given prison sentences.
Razaq, 40, formerly of Chorley Road, Walton-le-Dale, Preston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis.
He was jailed for two-and-a-half years, that to run consecutively with a sentence of six-and-a-half years imposed earlier this year at Cardiff Crown Court for a firearms offence – giving a total sentence of nine years.
Singh, 40, of Watling Street Road, Fulwood, Preston, pleaded guilty to firearms offences and conspiracy to supply cannabis.
He was jailed for six years and four months.
Riddick, 27, of Longway, Barrow-in-Furness, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and was jailed for three years and nine months.
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