£250,000 Leeds drugs gang hid Class A haul in baby bag and mum's plant pot

The ringleader of the operation, Aaron Egan, was sent to prison for 12 years after a court heard how he was the organiser of the illegal operation and exerted his influence over the other defendants.

Leeds Crown Court heard police swooped on Egan’s mother’s home in Meanwood as he was in the process of doing a drug deal with Joachim Mutsago.

Officers found a 1kg high purity block of cocaine worth £80,000 hidden in a plant pot of the garden on Sugarwell Lane.

On another occasion Abdul Mughal travelled from his home in Birmingham with his partner and their baby in order to buy heroin and ecstasy worth £47,000.

Mughal was stopped by the police as he drove back to the Midlands with with his family.

The drugs were found hidden inside a baby bag in the car.

Sheban Ali and Newaz Rashid were stopped by the police on the M62 returning to West Yorkshire with £35,000 in cash.

Kirstie Watson, prosecuting, said the cash was contaminated with traces of heroin and was drug money which they had collected on behalf of Egan.

Police observed an exchange of drugs between Egan and Stogden at a cafe on Stainbeck Road. The drugs were then passed on to Haroon Hussain and Hardeep Bacho who were later arrested and found in possession of around £10,000 worth of cocaine.

The court heard all the incidents in the conspiracy took place during a 25 day period in July 2014.

At the time of the conspiracy Egan was on bail after police searched his home on Spen Gardens in April 2013 and seized mkat and £5,000 in cash

Egan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, possession of mkat and cocaine with intent, possession of criminal property and dangerous driving.

Judge James Spencer, QC, told him: “This was a significant and serious affair.

“It is quite clear that you cast your net out widely to put together your team. You were quite discriminate about who you involved.

“You saw the opportunity for significant personal gain.”

Joachim Mutsago, 39, of Sheering Lower Road, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, was jailed for ten years after being found guilty of the conspiracy after a trial.

Adbul Mughal, 31, of Grosvenor Road, Birmingham, was jailed for eight years after being found guilty of the conspiracy.

Hardeep Bhacho, 36, of Linton Crescent, Alwoodley, and Haroon Hussain, 32, of, Sandhurst Grove, Harehills, were both jailed for three years, four months, after pleading guilty to the conspiracy.

Sheban Ali, 39, of Markham Avenue, Chapeltown, was jailed for 14 months after pleading guilty to possessing criminal property.

Nawaz Rashid, 32, of Dorset Mount, Harehills, admitted possessing criminal property and was jailed for 18 months.

Kyle Stogden, 21, of, Birkdale Drive, Moortown, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and was given a two year sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work.

After the case, Detective Inspector Carl Galvin of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit at the Protective Services (Crime) department, said: “Drug dealing is a blight on our communities. Tackling drug dealing is a top priority for West Yorkshire Police and we do everything possible to take positive action against those involved. The significant sentences handed down today to these individuals sends out a strong message to anyone involved in or considering getting involved in drug dealing that we will come after you.

“This operation was the result of painstaking surveillance work by officers and I would like to pay tribute to the team for all their hard work.”

RINGLEADER EGAN CAST A ‘WIDE NET’

Egan’s gang included: Joachim Mutsago, 39, of Hertfordshire, jailed for 10 years after being found guilty of conspiracy after a trial and Adbul Mughal, 31, from Birmingham, who got eight years for conspiracy. Others, who pleaded guilty, were: Hardeep Bhacho, 36, of Linton Crescent, Alwoodley, and Haroon Hussain, 32, of, Sandhurst Grove, Harehills, three years four months each for conspiracy; Sheban Ali, 39, of Markham Avenue, Chapeltown, 14 months for possessing criminal property; Nawaz Rashid, 32, of Dorset Mount, Harehills, 18 months for same; Kyle Stogden, 21, of, Birkdale Drive, Moortown, two-years suspended and 200 hours for conspiracy.