Skip to content

Dealer used key worker during Covid to move drugs

Greater Manchester Police A police mugshot of Faruquz Zaman. He has closely shaven dark hair and a beard and is wearing a white T-shirt with either a grey fleece jacket or blanket over his shoulders. Part of the Greater Manchester Police logo can be seen in the top left hand corner.Greater Manchester Police
Faruquz Zaman had drugs and cash transported for him by Debra Charlton throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Bolton Crown Court heard

A woman who used her key worker status to transport cocaine and heroin for a drug dealer throughout the Covid-19 pandemic has been jailed.

Debra Charlton, 36, from Bolton, transported cash and drugs for Faruquz Zaman, 45, without raising suspicion at a time when travel was limited.

Bolton Crown Court heard the pair were caught after police infiltrated the encrypted communications platform Encrochat.

Charlton was jailed for eight years and six months and Zaman for 18 years and six months at a hearing at Bolton Crown Court on 20 December.

The court heard Zaman was purchasing commercial volumes of cocaine and heroin from several international suppliers and selling to customers across Bolton.

He used Charlton as a courier, and she would collect the money and drugs on behalf of Zaman and either deliver it or store it at her home address.

They were arrested in August 2020, despite attempts to evade justice by disposing of their mobile devices and cars when news broke in June 2020 of law enforcement agencies being able to recover Encrochat data.

Google The exterior of Bolton Crown Court, with steps leading up to the main entrance and a bus stop sign outside.Google
The pair were jailed in a hearing at Bolton Crown Court

Charlton, of Robin Close, Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, and conspiracy to conceal, convert, disguise and transfer criminal property.

Zaman, of Cable Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, conspiracy to conceal, convert, disguise and transfer criminal property, and encouraging the commission of an offence abroad.

Det Insp Rick Castley, from Greater Manchester Police's Serious Organised Crime Group, said Zaman and Charlton openly communicated on the Encrochat platform and "shared details of their daily lives in and amongst conducting criminal business, which has ultimately led to them going straight to prison".

"By maintaining a hands-off role, he [Zaman] sought to use naive and trusted couriers like Debra Charlton to do his business, but she was actively complicit in Zaman's exploitative trade," he added.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected] and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Related internet links