West Yorkshire Gang Flooded South Cumbria with Crack and Heroin
A ruthless West Yorkshire gang, known as ‘Striker’, flooded South Cumbria with crack cocaine and heroin from late July to early September 2021. Shockingly, they exploited kids as young as 14 to traffic drugs from Bradford all the way to Barrow-in-Furness.
Kingpin Asim Hussain Locked Up for Eight Years
- Asim Hussain (21), leader of the gang from Bradford, was jailed for eight years. He also got a Serious Crime Prevention Order for conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering.
- Adil Hussain (19), Asim’s brother, received a 12-month community order for money laundering.
- Jibram Rahman (27), a drug courier from Bradford, was sentenced to three years for conspiracy to supply crack and heroin.
- Abaas Ali (31) from Brighouse got four years for conspiracy and money laundering.
- Simon Harrison (36), a street dealer from Halifax, was handed two years and three months for possession with intent to supply.
Others including Matthew Murphy and Kelly Newby were sentenced earlier, while Nathan Wharton has pleaded guilty but awaits sentencing.
Kids Used as Drug Runners and Couriers
Police uncovered chilling details of children being used to move drugs. On 7 August 2021, a 15-year-old travelled from Bradford to Barrow to supply drugs. The next day, a 16-year-old joined him, helping push Class A drugs in Barrow. Another child, just 14, was caught with £1,000 in cash on 1 September, travelling via rail with drugs.
Officers also seized a blue Nissan Micra used for numerous drug runs. On 25 August, police stopped the car near Ulverston. Inside were dealers and couriers plus drugs and weapons, including a large knife and wraps of heroin and crack with Asim Hussain’s fingerprints.
Police Raid Exposes Massive Drug Network
The breakthrough came on 26 July 2021 after a raid on Kelly Newby’s flat in Barrow, leading to key evidence against the gang. A big police swoop on 7 October raided the Hussain brothers’ home in Bradford, uncovering phones and cash tied to their crimes. Evidence showed Asim was running two other drug rings in Bradford and Barnsley at the same time.
A spokesperson from Cumbria’s Serious Crime Unit said: “The Hussain brothers’ drug operation exploited the most vulnerable. Using children to traffic drugs for profit, flooding South Cumbria with poison.”
“Thanks to joint efforts with West Yorkshire and British Transport Police, we secured strong evidence forcing Asim Hussain to plead guilty. We hope these sentences send a clear warning: We will track down and stop those dealing Class A drugs in south Cumbria, no matter where they come from.”
