A convicted drug trafficker from Bradford who is serving a 15-year sentence in prison has been ordered to pay £40,000 in compensation as part of a confiscation order.

Faiz Rehman was jailed in February 2023 after pleading guilty to supplying cocaine, heroin, and cannabis worth more than £4 million in a county lines operation.

At a proceeds of crime hearing at Bradford Crown Court the benefit figure – the value of the Rehman’s criminality – was said to be £4,619,308.16.

It related to drug trafficking in which Rehman and others used encrypted communications to run drugs lines across the north of England. When they came to court they were known as the EncroChat series of cases.

His Honour Judge Jonathan Gibson ordered Rehman to pay £40,000 by September 27 this year. He faces having 10 months added to his existing sentence if he defaults on that payment.

The case was heard at Bradford Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Judge Gibson said: “The case itself involved large quantities of Class A and B drugs, which were being referred to in various conversations over EncroChat.

“Over a number of consignments very large quantities of controlled drugs and their supply was being talked about.

“On any view the defendant was therefore significantly involved in drugs distribution in West Yorkshire and possibly elsewhere over certainly a number of weeks that were covered by the EncroChat download, and therefore clearly involved in serious crime. The offences to which you pleaded guilty demonstrate that.”

Judge Gibson also imposed a serious crime prevention order to run for five years from the point that Rehman, formerly of Hendford Drive, Barkerend, Bradford, is released on licence from prison.

He said: “Given the nature of these offences there is clearly a risk that the defendant will engage in this type of offending when he is released from custody. That risk is relatively substantial given the nature of these convictions.”

He also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of an encrypted mobile phone used by Rehman.