Cannabis cousins locked up

DRUG-dealing cousins from Oldham have been jailed after admitting intending to supply cannabis and money laundering.

Shazad Hussain (25), of Brook Lane, Glodwick, and Asad Hussain (25), of Brewerton Road, Clarksfield, were each sentenced to 15 months imprisonment at Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday.

Officers from GMP Tactical Aid Unit executed a warrant at a house in Higher House Close, Chadderton — the home of Shazad’s girlfriend — on September 23, following intelligence reports.

During the search, officers found cash in a plastic bag stashed in a bathroom cupboard, and more cash hidden behind bath panels. In total, more than £23,000 was seized.

Shazad was arrested the following month and admitted the money was his, but during his police interview claimed he had no involvement in drugs and the money had been given to him to start up a business.

On November 12 last year, officers from Oldham’s Operational Support Unit searched a black BMW that was parked in Netherhey Street — just 25 yards from Shazad’s home.

The car was seized and forensically examined, and recovered from the boot was a large amount of cannabis worth up to £22,000 and £4,670 in cash.

PC Philip Shaw from the operational support unit, who investigated both crimes from start to finish alongside DC Ian Webb and DC Michelle Lomax, sent the cash, drugs and packaging off for forensic analysis, and the fingerprints of both Shazad and Asad were found.

PC Shaw said: “Our investigation revealed that these two cousins were involved in a lucrative scheme to deal cannabis and launder the profits.

“What can be easily overlooked is that people like the Hussains, who deal drugs, perpetrate a cycle of misery for not just drug users but also innocent people.

“While people like Shazad and Asad operate, there will always be users who are reliant on their dealers and hence their addictions grow. However, these same addicts often have to resort to other crimes just to get their hands on cash to pay for their addiction, and often the victims are innocent members of other communities.

“I hope these convictions continue to send out the message to anyone who gets involved in drugs, and just as importantly our communities, that we will target anyone we suspect of drug dealing and they will face a lengthy jail term.”