Drugs family from Rochdale who led ‘life of luxury’ while still claiming benefits jailed

A family from Rochdale who led a ‘life of luxury’ funded by drugs all while claiming benefits have been jailed as part of the country’s biggest law enforcement crackdown.

Brothers Imad Ul-Haque, twenty-two and Ibad Ul-Haque, twenty-nine, deposited tens of thousands of pounds into their bank accounts, at one point even putting down a deposit of £155,995 for a £520,000 house, claiming £113,000 of the deposit was paid directly from their personal savings.

One of their wives also purchased a BMW worth around £60,000 during this period.

The duo’s drug operation was uncovered as a result of Operation Venetic, which saw detectives from Greater Manchester Police’s Rochdale Challenger team uncover the identities of the organised criminal family, in which they managed to distinguish Imad and Ibad as their Encrochat handles ‘Starkbutter’ and ‘Paperspawner’.

GMP

Messages between March and May 2020 were analysed by detectives and proved that Imad and Ibad had distributed approximately 50kg of cocaine and directed others in the Organised Crime Group to distribute the drugs across the country.

The text messages also highlighted the involvement of Imad’s partner Holly Palmer and the two men’s sister Sabra, who both assisted in the operation by laundering the money.

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Both Imad and Holly Palmer would deposit the money earned through the sale of drugs into high-value assets, all whilst Palmer was claiming Universal Credit after stating her partner was unemployed.

Imad Ul-Haque has now been jailed for seventeen years and seven months after admitting conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering, while his brother Ibad Ul-Haque has been jailed for twelve years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Police Constable Lucas McGregor of GMP’s Rochdale Challenger team said on the arrest: “Ul-Haque and his family believed that they could commit crime with impunity.

“They supplied the North West with large amounts of cocaine and lived a lavish lifestyle of expensive holidays, houses and cars funded by drugs whilst the people of Rochdale struggled through the pandemic.

“Whilst committing their crimes Imad Ul-Haque and his wife, Holly Palmer, even claimed benefits meant for society’s most vulnerable. Palmer then shamelessly argued that the court should show her leniency as she had previously assisted people with disabilities, the very people she has left out of pocket.

“Their greed for extravagant accessories obviously blinded them to the risks of their lifestyle. All of which has now been rightfully taken away.”