Two men have been jailed for 20 years for their part in one million pound drug plot.

Burham Tatar and Houshyar Mandahaki appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, where they were sentenced for their roles in a Class A drug plot which has already seen one of their accomplices jailed.

The duo were caught by officers after travelling from London to Newcastle in possession of large quantities of heroin with the intent to supply the drugs.

After arriving in the North East, the pair drove to the Battlefield area of Newcastle, where they met up with associate Kevin Hardacre.

Hardacre was subsequently stopped by officers after being stopped driving away from the scene, whilst Tatar and Mandahaki were arrested after entering a nearby address.

(Image: Northumbria Police Copyright – No Reproduction Without Permission) A search of Hardacre’s and the associated property saw officers recover 19.5kg of high purity Heroin with a street value of £925,000.

As part of the investigation, which ran during 2022, officers with Northumbria Police established that all three men had been involved in conspiracy to supply the illicit substances.

On Monday, the pair were sentenced as follows:

Tatar, 43, of Hoe Street, Plymouth was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the supply of a Class A drug.

Mandahaki, 39, of Blagdon Close, Newcastle sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for the supply of a Class A drug.

(Image: Northumbria Police Copyright – No Reproduction Without Permission) Kevin Hardacre, 46, of William Street, Rochdale, was previously sentenced to 56 months in prison in December 2022 after being found guilty of supplying a Class A drug.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Marc Michael said: “Organised crime groups such as these bring misery into our neighbourhoods by selling this highly addictive illicit substance which is well-known to destroy communities and ruin people’s lives.

“This group of men were supplying large amounts of very high purity Heroin and travelled a long way as part of their plot to distribute it into our communities.

(Image: Northumbria Police Copyright – No Reproduction Without Permission) “Mandahaki and Tatar knew exactly what they were doing, and the severity of their offending is reflected in the sentences handed down. This has been a long and complex investigation and I would like to thank those officers and staff, as well as our criminal justice partners, who have helped secure the right result supporting our purpose of keeping people safe and fighting crime.”

Det Chief Inspector Michael added: “With the sentences handed down today, this brings the total to almost 20 years in prison for this trio – which is undoubtedly what they deserve.

“As part of Operation Sentinel we will continue our clampdown on organised crime and would ask our communities to continue to work with us by reporting suspicious activity and sharing your concerns.”

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Anyone wishing to report suspicious or illicit activity should send Northumbria Police a direct message on social media, use the live chat function on the website or use the ‘Report’ page on the website.

For those unable to contact the Force via those ways, call 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.