County lines drug dealer jailed for conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine in Skipton

Saleem Raza Sadik, 42, of Toller Lane, Heaton pleaded guilty to two charges

Author: May NormanPublished 20th Aug 2021

A “county lines” drug dealer from Bradford has been jailed for five years and four months for being involved in the supply of heroin and cocaine into Skipton.

Saleem Raza Sadik, 42, of Toller Lane, Heaton, was jailed at Bradford Crown Court on 19 August after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

He was part of a drugs supply chain in partnership with his brother, 38-year-old brother Naim, also of Toller Lane, who was jailed last month for four-and-a-half years after he pleaded guilty to being involved in one of the conspiracies.

Saleem prepared and packaged the drugs, while his brother organised the onward supply and sales of the drugs using runners.

Major police operation

In June 2018, officers stopped a car in Skipton and found 70 wraps of cocaine and heroin. A test revealed the Saleem’s DNA was present on the packing.

Following a police operation in summer 2019, more heroin and cocaine wraps were found that again had Saleem’s DNA on them.

The investigation, that was carried out jointly with West Yorkshire Police also saw two runners who were recruited by the brothers, handed suspended sentences last months.

County lines is the term given to a form of drug dealing in which dealers based in larger towns and cities, recruit vulnerable people including children and other drug addicts to sell their drugs in smaller towns and cities. They often use violence and intimidation to control their recruits.

Drug dealing remains a priority for North Yorkshire Police and we urge members of the public to report information about drug dealing in their neighbourhood.

Please look out for:

Signs your neighbour or someone you know might be exploited in what is known as “cuckooing”

  • Increased callers at a property
  • Increase in cars pulling up for short periods of time
  • Different accents at a property
  • Increased antisocial behaviour at a property
  • Not seeing the resident for long periods of time
  • Unfamiliar vehicles at the property
  • Windows covered or curtains closed for long periods
  • Communal doors propped open

Please also look out for the signs that a young person you know might be exploited by drug dealers:

  • Persistently going missing from school or home and / or being found out-of-area;
  • Unexplained money, clothes, or mobile phones
  • Excessive receipt of texts / phone calls
  • Relationships with controlling / older individuals or groups
  • Leaving home / care without explanation
  • Suspicion of physical assault / unexplained injuries
  • Carrying weapons
  • Significant decline in school results / performance
  • Gang association or isolation from peers or social networks
  • Self-harm or significant changes in emotional well-being

For free, confidential help with any drug or alcohol misuse related matter call:

North Yorkshire Horizons, adult drug and alcohol service for North Yorkshire on 08000 14 14 80.

Compass REACH, young people’s drug and alcohol service for North Yorkshire on 0800 008 7452.

To report drug dealing in your area of if you suspect someone is being exploited, call North Yorkshire Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 in an emergency.

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