Two men have been jailed for a total of 14 years for their part in a drug-smuggling conspiracy uncovered by secret police surveillance.

Bradford Crown Court heard that in July 1996 the then West Yorkshire Chief Constable, Keith Hellawell, took the rare step of authorising covert listening and recording equipment at a large, detached house in Heaton, Bradford.

Over a four-month period the "bugging'' involved monitoring discussions between men in the house and taping parts of telephone conversations.

Zahim Shah, 21, of Thornbury Drive, Heaton, and Nasir Saddiq, 27, of Hawes Mount, Little Horton, admitted their part in the conspiracy to import Class A drugs from Pakistan.

Judge Scott Wolstenholme was told that Saddiq, who was jailed for eight years, agreed to recruit couriers for the drug-smuggling operation.

Shah, a teenager at the time, agreed to act as a courier to earn some money. He was jailed for six years.

Saddiq's barrister, David Mitchell, said he had agreed to find suitable people to act as couriers and was told he would receive £2,000 for each one. Saddiq had expressed remorse.

Shah's barrister, Mushtaq Hussain QC, said his client had become involved with more sophisticated, dangerous criminals, but never intended to bring drugs in.

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