Heroin sent in post from Pakistan

HEROIN worth up to £680,000 was smuggled from Pakistan through the post, organised by an Oldham man, a court heard.

Labelled as a gift, it was bound for an address in Bury.

But the drugs were seized by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) at the Parcelforce International Hub in Coventry.

Once the drugs had been removed, SOCA sealed the package and kept it under surveillance until it arrived in Bury on April 15 last year, where David Austin was seen signing for the parcel before running off, Robert Davies, prosecuting, told Manchester Crown Court.

Austin (25), of Blackley, Syed Ahmed (24), of Napier Street, Oldham, and Kashif Khan (26), of Ilford, east London, deny conspiring to evade the prohibition on the importation of controlled drugs.

It is alleged Ahmed and Khan arranged for the drugs to be brought into the country. Austin is alleged to have been paid to collect the drugs before giving them to Khan, who was arrested near by.

Khan admits attempting to possess the heroin with intent to supply.

The prosecution say Ahmed can be linked to the delivery address and that he organised and supervised the smuggling bid in collusion with Khan.

(Proceeding)