Blackburn cocaine gang jailed for nearly 30 years

Four drug dealers who conspired to flood the streets of East Lancashire with cocaine from their bases in Blackburn have been jailed.

Officers identified and took down their Chyna drugs line, headed by defendant Asar Khan.

In April 2019 officers recovered a vehicle from close to Khan’s home address in July Street, Blackburn. Within that vehicle they found a kilo of cocaine Khan was subsequently linked to forensically.

On 9^th December 2022 they executed a search warrant at defendant Essa Akram’s house and found £5,000 in cash.

Eight days later officers approached a vehicle parked between June Street, and July Street, Blackburn. When officers interacted with the driver of the car, it was deliberately driven at them. That vehicle was registered to defendant Ghaffar Ahmed and insured to his co-defendant son Asar Khan. Enquiries placed defendant Vakar Ellahi in the area at the time of the incident.

On 21^st December 2022 Ellahi was in Bolton at the same time as the Chyna drugs line.

On 14^th January 2023 Ellahi text the Chyna line stating: “I need my wage.”

Two days later our officers seized a vehicle which was registered and insured to Ahmed and also insured to Khan. Within that vehicle we found 105 wraps of cocaine, 79 grams of cannabis.

On 26^th February 2023, Akram was caught on CCTV entering a petrol station to purchase a tup up the Chyna drugs line.

On 29^th March 2023 Ellahi was arrested in Colne.

Ahmed was arrested at an address in Mill Hill, Blackburn, and his phone was seized. A top up receipt found in a bin was linked back to Ellahi.

Ekram was arrested at his home in Blackburn a threw a mobile into his neighbour’s garden. Officers recovered the phone and it transpired to be the Chyna line. They also found £10,000 cash in his bedroom and eight wraps of cocaine in a car parked outside.

All four men appeared at Preston Crown Court and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine,

Asar Khan, 39, of July Street, Blackburn, was jailed for eight years and six months.

Vakar Ellahi, 29, of Trevor Close, Blackburn, was jailed for seven years and ten months.

Ghaffar Ahmed, 43, of Adelaide Terrace, Blackburn, was jailed for seven years and six months.

Essa Akram, 23, of Skelshaw Close, Blackburn, was jailed for five years.

DS Stu Peall, of the East Exploitation Team, said: “These conspirators targeted the most vulnerable member of society in their pursuit of the high life.

“I welcome the sentences handed down by the judge which reflects the seriousness of their actions and the consequences of selling illegal drugs in East Lancashire.”