Nelson drug dealer must hand over £12,000 to police

Naeem Mustafa (34), of Ethersall Road, Nelson, was sentenced to three years imprisonment in April, 2010, for possession with intent to supply heroin.

He was brought back before Burnley Crown Court on Thursday under the Proceeds of Crime Act after police undertook an investigation into his finances.

As a result, his overall benefit figure from crime was calculated as £12,047. He must repay all this money within six months or face a further nine months in jail and still owe the money on his release, with accrued interest.

Mustafa came to the police’s attention in October, 2009, when he was stopped in a Renault Megane on St Philip’s Street, Nelson. He ran from the vehicle dropping a small package but was detained nearby.

The package was found to contain a quantity of heroin and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of possessing heroin with intent to supply. Further searches were then conducted at addresses owned by Mustafa on Ethersall Road, St Philip’s Street and Vulcan Street, Nelson, where a further substantial amount of heroin, cash and drug packaging paraphernalia was recovered.

He was charged with the offences of possession with intent to supply heroin and being concerned in the supply of heroin and in April last year, appeared at Burnley Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to the offence of possession with intent to supply heroin and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

Financial investigator DC Adrian Crorken said: “Mustafa has clearly had access to large amounts of cash, which he has been unable to attribute to any legitimate source of income.

“We target the profits of criminal activity at all levels in our communities, whether they commit complex frauds or are a convicted drug dealer.”