A DRUG dealer has been given extra jail time for peddling crack cocaine on Keighley's streets.

Saqib Hussain was given a 68-month prison sentence last year for dealing drugs after a police search found he had 88 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin secreted on him.

He appeared before Bradford Crown Court via video link from HMP Wealstun to be sentenced for three separate but identical offences of supplying Class A drugs to an undercover police officer.

He was caught as part of Operation Saintpond, a large-scale police operation to target organised gangs peddling heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis in Keighley and across the county border into North Yorkshire.

Prosecutor Victoria Barker said Hussain, 30, formerly of Keighley, was selling crack cocaine via a “ring and buy” drug line known as Freddie that users would call to make orders.

The undercover officer bought drugs from Hussain on August 8, 2023, and then twice a week later on August 15.

On August 8 the officer placed an order for 12 wraps of crack cocaine and met Hussain, who was driving a Seat Leon, at the corner of Russell Street and Luton Street in Keighley.

Hussain was found to be the named driver on the car’s insurance policy.

On August 15 the officer called the line to order three wraps of crack cocaine and met Hussain on Russell Street. This time he was driving a silver Audi.

When those drugs were tested the cocaine was found to be of 83 per cent purity.

The officer was wearing a recording device and Hussain was identified from video footage.

Nine days later Hussain was stopped and searched by officers who were not aware of Operation Saintpond and found to be carrying a large amount of drugs.

He was later jailed for five years and eight months.

The court heard he had previous convictions for drug-related matters including possession with intent to supply.

Mrs Barker said Hussain had a significant operational role in the chain with awareness and understanding of the operation.

Mitigating, Matthew Stewart said Hussain should have been sentenced for all matters at the same time and that the offences for which he was jailed last September post-dated the three deals in August 2023.

His Honour Judge Colin Burn added four months to Hussain’s 68-month sentence minus the 14 months already served to make a total of 58 months, to be served concurrently.