West Yorkshire drugs gang leader jailed over Lincoln cocaine supply

Aqeel Zaman was jailed for 16 years and one month after pleading guilty to to conspiracy to supply cocaine

A man responsible for bringing large quantities of cocaine into Lincoln has been jailed.

Aqeel Zaman, 34, from Bradford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and a second offence of possessing over £57,000 in criminal property.

Lincoln Crown Court heard he was responsible for arranging three supply trips, with each delivery of cocaine weighing around 13lb (6kg).

He was jailed for 16 years and one month on Thursday.

The court was told Zaman had links to other conspirators who were bringing Class A drugs into the city between December 2021 and January 2023.

Judge Simon Hirst told the defendant he had played "a leading role in the conspiracy".

"You were the leader of the West Yorkshire organised group [and] you were responsible for bringing a large quantity of cocaine into Lincolnshire," he said.

In mitigation, the court was told Zaman had struggled to find work after being released from a previous prison sentence and now bitterly regretted slipping back into criminal activity.

At the time he was caring for his parents on a terraced street in Bradford and living off benefits.

The court also heard Zaman, now of no fixed address, was in Pakistan when he learnt of the police investigation and had showed "great courage" by returning to the United Kingdom to face proceedings.

Zaman was sentenced to 16 years and one month for the cocaine supply charge, and a concurrent sentence of three years and three months for possessing criminal property.