Drug-dealing twins who ran crime group in Nelson jailed

Lancashire Police say Rohail and Sohail Khan thought they were untouchable

Author: Harry BoothPublished 23rd Jan 2023

Drug-dealing twins who ran an organised crime group in Nelson have been jailed for 12 years.

They sourced drugs in bulk which were then cut, bagged and supplied from cross-border areas.

Rohail Khan was the passenger in a Ford Fiesta which was stopped in Nelson in February 2022 after concerns about the manner in which it was being driven.

Ten wraps of cocaine were found inside and Rohail was in possession of around £500 cash and a mobile phone.

The phone showed messages about buying bulk wholesale amounts of drugs and packaging and supplying them.

A warrant was executed at the home of Sohail's girlfriend, Jade Mendes, on 12 July 2022. Inside the property on Cardigan Avenue in Burnley was nearly £9000 in cash, drug packaging and two mobile phones.

A mobile phone found under the bed was linked back to Sohail. Calls were diverted to another phone belonging to him if they weren't answered.

Most calls lasted for less than 30 seconds and between 21 and 28 July 2022, more than 10,000 calls were diverted to Sohail's phone.

Four different mobile phone numbers belonged to Sohail and they all had contact with Mendes to discuss packaging, preparing drugs, holding drugs, topping up the drugs line and supplying drugs.

Mendes packaged, prepared and stored drugs and money for the group and controlled the drugs line.

An early-morning warrant was executed on 12 September 2022 at a property on Fletcher Streeet in Nelson.

Rohail and Sohail were arrested while they were still in bed and officers recovered nearly £10000 in cash, a sword, a balaclava and mobile phones.

Rohail Khan (27) of Fletcher Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supplying cocaine, possessing cocaine with intent to supply and two counts of possession of criminal property.

Sohail Khan (27) of Fletcher Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supplying cocaine and possessing criminal property.

They were jailed for six years each.

Jade Mendes (31) of Cardigan Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine and possessing criminal property.

She received a two-year suspended sentence.

PC Tom Archer, of East Target Crime Team, said:

"We are committed to pro-actively targeting OCGs who seek to profit from the misery of others and bring violence to our communities.

"The Khan brothers and Mendes thought they were untouchable in the community. I hope their convictions and sentences show that nobody is untouchable and if you engage in serious and organised crime you should expect an early knock at the door from Lancashire Police."

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.