Armed police ringed a Bradford courtroom yesterday as a fugitive drug-trafficker was finally sent to jail.

Ashiq Hussain Elahi went on the run two years ago after being bailed part-way through his trial at Bradford Crown Court on two charges of conspiring to import heroin into the UK.

He was convicted in his absence and given two concurrent jail sentences totalling 12 years. A warrant was issued after he failed to return to court, but it was not until last month that he was arrested by police in the Republic of Ireland.

Yesterday three officers from West Yorkshire police's major crime unit flew to Dublin to bring him back to the mainland. At Leeds/Bradford Airport, they were met by police vehicles to transfer 34-year-old Elahi to Bradford Magistrates' Court.

Earlier in the day, police had used sniffer dogs to check out Courtroom No4 and shortly before the convoy's arrival nine officers armed with sub- machine guns took their places outside and inside the room.

Smartly-dressed Elahi was flanked by two officers as he stood in the dock and confirmed his identity. He also agreed that he had been convicted of the drug offences in November 1999.

District judge (magistrates) David Thomas then ordered that he be taken straight to jail to begin his sentence.

Speaking after the hearing, Det Inspector Chris Thompson said he believed Elahi, formerly of Branksome Court, Heaton, Bradford, had spent some time in Pakistan before arriving in Ireland where he had contacts.

"Once we believed he was in Ireland we liaised with our Irish colleagues and an operation was mounted,'' he added.

Two other men received jail terms of eight and six years respectively in the same case, which police claim represented the breaking up of a gang responsible for the large-scale importation of heroin from Pakistan via Europe.

"We believe Elahi was at the top of this and we targeted him,'' said Det Insp Thompson. "We believe we have closed down a major supply route.''

Elahi, a father-of-three, appeared "philosophical'' when he met the officers from Bradford.

"I think he is resigned to his fate,'' said Det Insp Thompson.

"It is a small world and we are committed to tracking these people down and bringing them to justice. It is a strong message that trafficking in controlled drugs will not be tolerated.

"We believe in this case we have gone for the man at the top.''