Rochdale man 'supplying drugs across Preston and Chorley' jailed for three years

A Rochdale man has been jailed for three years and eight months for his role in a drugs supply gang working across Preston and Chorley.

Jack Johnson, 25, was one of 30 people jailed after appearing at Preston Crown Court over the last few months. The 30 were sentenced at various hearings for conspiracy to supply Class A controlled drugs.

It is believed that between £2.15m and £3.1m worth of crack cocaine and heroin was distributed over a 12-month period by the gang which was headed by three brothers, Haq Nawaz, of Leyland; Dil Nawaz, of Preston, and Asim Nawaz, of Chorley.

The group had several drug lines which operated in Chorley and Preston, and the brothers controlled an ‘army’ of drug dealers and runners, some of whom were exploited juveniles, who operated at street level.

Mobile telephone numbers were utilised as drug lines to advertise drugs for sale and to take orders for Class A drugs.

Block text messages would be sent out to multiple recipients to indicate that the gang were ready to supply drugs.

These blocks of texts were sent out several times within a 24-hour period, pointing to a round-the-clock distribution network.

It was the network of dealers and runners who operated the lines.

Lancashire Police launched an intelligence-led investigation into the drug lines which resulted in numerous arrests being made in June last year.

Seized mobile phones and call data were analysed to determine the roles played by the various people involved.

Detective Inspector Paul Whitehead of Lancashire Police said: “This was an organised criminal gang involved in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin onto the streets of Preston and Chorley.

“At the head of it were the Nawaz brothers who used dealers and runners to sell the drugs to users.

“The supply and use of drugs causes misery in our communities, and Lancashire Police works tirelessly to bring down supply networks and bring those involved to justice.

“Our investigation was part of Operation Warrior which is aimed at disrupting and dismantling organised crime in the county.

“Operation Warrior targets individuals and gangs involved in crime, as well as associated issues such as violence and intimidation, large scale drug supply, exploitation and fraud, all of which can cause serious harm to local communities."

Andrew Snowden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, said: "It's important that we send a clear message to criminals that police are coming to get you, and this is another great example of the work officers do, every single day, to disrupt and dismantle organised crime gangs and put them behind bars.

"I would encourage anyone to report suspicious activity, or any information that might help in bringing criminals to justice. We continue to go after more and make sure those involved in organised crime feel the full force of the law and have their day in court."