Two men have been jailed after police discovered £17.2million worth of cocaine hidden in blocks of cheese.
lancashire In May, police said they discovered 217kg of cocaine when they raided a unit in Blackburn and cut open gouda blocks – the largest ever seizure by police.
Saleem Chaudhri, 46, was jailed for 27-and-a-half years at Preston Crown Court on Friday after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering, a police spokesman said.
Rieddul Mohabath, 28, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Image: PA
Police raided after seeing Chaudhri in Waterside, blackburnseized a Toyota car from a drugs courier and drove it to Blackburn’s old fire station.
Police found the Class A drug, imported from Belgium, hidden among cheese and other chunks in rubbish bags, ready to be handed to couriers.
Saleem Chaudhri, 46, was jailed for 27 and a half years. Image: PA
Rieddul Mohabath, 28, was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Image: PA
Police said Mohabas, of Dean Road, South Shields, was directing couriers to Blackburn to collect a large quantity of cocaine.
When he was arrested on July 3, bags of cocaine were found in an Audi outside his home.
According to police, nearly £10,000 in cash was found at Chaudhry’s home and evidence showed he agreed to sell more than 2,000 kilograms of cocaine worth more than £70 million between September 2022 and May 2023.
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Nearly £10,000 in cash was recovered from Chaudhri’s home. Image: PA
Detective Sergeant Haydn Sibley of Lancashire Police said: “Chowdhury and his associates went to great lengths to conceal their product and the amount of cocaine seized is the largest ever seized in Lancashire , you can understand why.
“When we arrested Chaudhry you could tell by the look on his face that his world had fallen apart and that is reflected in the significant sentence he received today.
“I welcome the sentences of Chaudhry and Mohabas and I hope they send a clear message about what you should expect to happen when we catch you supplying Class A drugs in Lancashire.”
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