Two brothers sentenced to combined 12 years in prison for roles in class A drugs supply

Two brothers have been sentenced at Bolton Crown Court today (Monday 24 June 2024) for their roles in class A drugs supply.

• Riaz Bax (10/11/1973) of Kenton Close, Halliwell, received a total time in custody of nine-and-a-half years after being convicted of three charges of possession with intent to supply class A drugs, dangerous driving and contempt of court. He will also be subjected to a three-year driving ban activated on release.
• Mohammed Bax (31/08/1980) of Avenue Street, Halliwell, has been jailed for 40 months for being found guilty of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

The investigation concluded with the discovery of 3kg of cocaine, valued at £300,000 in April 2023 in Bolton.

On August 18 2022, officers were on duty in Bolton when they noticed a car nearly colliding with the police vehicle.

After stopping the vehicle, arresting and searching Mohammed Bax, officers found £900 in cash, 45 snap bags of white powder, later tested to be 12.9g of cocaine, a box containing 24.1g of cannabis and two phones. The arrested man later admitted that his name was in fact Riaz Bax and he had taken his brother Mohammed’s vehicle without consent.

He was questioned at Bolton Police Station, answered no comment and was released under investigation.

On October 17 2022, the vehicle was again spotted by officers, who followed it given its link to the supply of drugs. The vehicle was driven erratically near a group of school children, prompting officers to pursue the vehicle.

The driver, Riaz Bax, then tried to run away but was arrested and searched by officers, who found 16 bags of cocaine, £425 in cash and two mobile phones in his possession. He was again questioned and released under investigation.

Officers were on patrol on April 29 last year on Halliwell Road at 5pm when they heard about a suspected drug deal taking place around Chorley Old Road.

On telling a car driver to pull over, they found Riaz's younger brother Mohammed who had been carrying cocaine, a large quantity of cash and two mobile phones. 

But about 50 minutes later officers elsewhere in Halliwell sighted Riaz with a white JD Sports bag.

On tracking him and stopping him in his car, they found the white bag in the boot.

Inside the bag was a black shoe box, containing around 3kg of cocaine, worth between £105,000 and £300,000.

On searching his family home, officers found drug paraphernalia including a set of scales and burner phones.

But Riaz later had contempt of court added to his offences when on April 26 this year he appeared to make a threatening gesture to a police officer during a trial of issue hearing.

Detective Constable Robert Bond, of our Bolton District, said: “This was a long investigation where the Bax brothers undertook several dangerous actions over the space of two years.

“Not only was their being concerned in the supply of class A drugs a serious problem, their actions when it came to dangerous driving, lying to officers and Riaz later being in contempt of court shows their reckless actions and lack of regard for the law and the people of Bolton.

“Today’s sentences put two dangerous offenders behind bars and thanks to our officers, cocaine worth up to £300,000 has been removed from the streets and away from blighting our communities.”