Operation Venetic: The fugitive drug lord hid in his parents’ attic

A “significant and trusted” drug supplier who was on the run from law enforcement was caught hiding in his parents’ attic.

Faaris Zaman, 27, fled the UK in 2020 after being arrested by National Crime Agency officers working as part of Operation Venetian – the UK NCA-led response to the takedown of encrypted communications platform EncroChat .

Using the handle ‘oraclewarrior’, Zaman used EncroChat to supply cocaine and heroin and managed criminal profits of £1.3m.

Zaman was arrested in July 2020 and when NCA investigators searched his family address in Ashgrove, Bradford, they found £89,000 in cash, a vacuum packaging machine and lists of debtors.

Handwritten notes detailing buyers, prices and pickup vehicles illustrated Zaman’s drug supply deals dating back to at least October 2018.

He gave an interview without comment and was released under investigation. As the trial progressed against him, he fled the UK.

He slipped back into the country clandestinely to evade the NCA, but officers tracked him to the family address and in October 2023 he was arrested again after a three-hour manhunt ended with officers found quietly tucked away in the attic of the large semi-detached. The home.

He was charged and later admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to possess criminal property at Bradford Crown Court in March 2024.

Zaman’s EncroChat messages showed he texted other organized criminals to deal several kilos of cocaine and heroin, moving hundreds of thousands of pounds at a time.

In April 2020, Zaman was in contact with another user who arranged for the cash to be delivered to him for counting. A photograph of wads of bank notes was recovered from the device, with messages confirming that almost £140,000 had been received. Other messages showed Zaman in conversation with others about lifting hundreds of thousands of pounds from locations in the north of England on numerous occasions.

On another occasion, Zaman responded to a contact who asked for feedback on the “tops” (cocaine) provided. Zaman said three people said the drugs were “not good for washing or sniffing” (cocaine). Numerous images of blocks of white powder have been shared among users.

In May 2020, Zaman had a conversation with two users to try to provide a sample of “butts” (heroin), describing it as “grade 8, clean taste”. Zaman sent a picture of the user’s medication before delivering a sum to two addresses in Bradford.

Zaman claimed he was primarily a money launderer on behalf of other Encrochat users, but was then also involved in the supply of Class A drugs. He said he was not a ringleader, acting on the instructions of other users.

He was jailed for 11 years and seven months at Bradford Crown Court today (May 22).

NCA operations manager Nigel Coles said: “Faaris Zaman suggested he played a smaller role in this drug supply network but this was serious and organized crime at a high level where his messages showed he was an important and reliable operator.

“Messages obtained during Operation Venetic led us directly to Zaman, who believed he was operating above law enforcement.

“The ANC is committed to protecting the public against criminals like Zaman who fuel the illegal drug trade and will continue our work to bring them to justice.”

Operation Venetic was the deepest ever penetration of the UK by organized crime groups.

To date, more than 1,600 criminals have been convicted and there are many more suspects in the legal and judicial systems.

In total, more than 3,300 arrests were made and more than 2,000 suspects charged in the UK.

Over 10,700 years of punishment were given to criminals.

The drug seizures include almost six and a half tons of cocaine, over three tons of heroin and over twenty tons of cannabis.

One hundred and seventy-three firearms were taken off the streets of the UK, along with nearly 3,500 rounds of ammunition, and more than £84 million was seized from organized crime groups. Over 200 life threats have been averted.

These figures represent the collective efforts of the NCA, UK police forces, regional organized crime units, the Border Force, HM Revenue and Customs and, crucially, the Crown Prosecution Service.

May 22, 2024