CONVERSATIONS recorded by the bug in Parwaz Iqbal's car formed a crucial part of the prosecution case - and led police to finding substantial quantities of the drugs he supplied.
Iqbal was overheard talking about the drugs trade and about how many people controlled the market in different cities.
He told how, in Sheffield, he didn't have any rivals "apart from Somalis".
In conversations with people in his car and over the phone, transcripts of which were read out in court, Iqbal spoke in code about large quantities of drugs and sums of money, and meeting people serving long prison sentences.
The court heard he offered cut price deals for people who bought from him in bulk, and also spoke about going to the Netherlands on a deal - but added that, if it didn't work out, he would "fill a suitcase in Pakistan". Iqbal also promised speedy service to his customers. He assured one caller his order would arrive within 40 minutes.
Heroin crimelord's plan to put £1m of drugs on Sheffield streetsAndrew Marshall, prosecuting, said Iqbal was observed handing a package from his car boot to Christopher McGee, from Liverpool, last September.
McGee's car was followed by police and, when stopped after a chase, eight kilogrammes of amphetamine sulphate were found with a street value of £62,000.
The court heard McGee was prosecuted, however the investigation into Iqbal was not made public, so officers could continue to investigate him.
Last November, police mounted a raid of a house connected to Iqbal in Chesterfield Road - but only found three wraps of heroin, which he claimed were for personal use, so he was given a caution.
"In fact, it appears they were samples for people he supplied," Mr Marshall said.
Over the following days, Iqbal was heard talking about a 15kg consignment of heroin, with a street value of £675,000, which he discussed with Hussain.
The court heard Hussain drove to Gloucester when he was observed handing over drugs, believed to be heroin, with another motorist in a street.
Surveillance officers continued to watch his activities and, at the beginning of December, saw him collect a package from a car in Norfolk Park, which he drove home. Officers raided his house after obtaining a search warrant and found 7.5kg of heroin, believed to be half the 15kg haul, which had been returned for "not being good enough quality" - despite having a purity of 61 per cent.
"Hussain also had £1,000 cash on him", Mr Marshall said.
The next day, Iqbal was already arranging his next deal.
The court heard he met Arif and asked him to collect amphetamines from a contact in Hounslow, London.
The discussion took place in Iqbal's car and was recorded by the police bug.
The handover went ahead but police swooped as Arif approached Sheffield on the A61 Dronfield Bypass. In his boot, packages containing 44kg of amphetamines were found.
Iqbal was driving on the same road, and officers pulled him over, too, discovering four mobile phones and £2,500 cash.
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