Three men have been jailed for a total of 35 years for their roles in organised crime that saw the seizure of cocaine and heroin worth £1.214 million and four Glock pistols with silencers and 200 rounds of ammunition.

Before Bradford Crown Court today were Rashid Ashraf, 40, of Leeds Old Road, Heckmondwike (also known as Mohammed Rashid); Rizwan Shah, 27, of Fairbank Terrace, Girlington, Bradford; and Raja Altaf, 28, of St Mary’s Terrace, Manningham, Bradford.

Prosecutor Alasdair Campbell said the men and others were arrested as the result of a police surveillance operation into an organised crime gang operating in the Bradford area.

Ashraf played a leading role in the organisation using a network of trusted people to store and deliver the drugs and launder money.

The police seized 21 kilos of high-purity cocaine and two kilos of heroin with a combined value of £1.214 million.

Also recovered was £273,000 in cash and “assassination kits” of four lethal Glock pistols with silencers and 200 rounds of ammunition.

One man, not yet sentenced, laundered £5 million for the organisation, the court was told.

Ashraf was arrested in April by armed police. He was in a Mercedes car with the registration plate PI5TOL. He was wearing black gloves on a warm day and in possession of a kilo block of cocaine.

Shah worked for Ashraf, storing the drugs and guns, and Altaf was a multi-kilo drugs customer of the organisation, Mr Campbell said.

Ashraf pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession of criminal property and conspiracy to possess prohibited weapons and ammunition. He was jailed for 18 years.

Shah pleaded guilty to possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply, possession of criminal property and possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition. He was jailed for ten years.

Altaf admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply and dangerous driving, in March this year, and was imprisoned for seven years.

Matthew Harding, Ashraf’s barrister, conceded that a lengthy custodial sentence was inevitable but said he did not fall into the top category of drug suppliers. He had no previous convictions for firearms offences.

Ashraf’s primary concern was for his elderly parents who had been threatened following his arrest.

Jonathan Turner, for Shah, said members of his family had suffered serious health problems because of the stress following his arrest.

Andrew Dallas, for Altaf, said he was of previous good character. He was a drug addict who became involved in the trade because of debts and pressure.

He was a carer for his ill mother and had worked for many years as a delivery driver and at a hardware store.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell QC, said Ashraf played a leading role in the organisation. Shah was a trusted operative and Altaf a drugs customer.

Three others are yet to be sentenced for their roles in the organisation, that was running between February and May this year.